Podcasts

Okay so I am still about a month away, but I think I have figured out how to do podcasts (iTunes feature). Hopefully this will be a great addition to the many features we already add to those seeking a new representative/Realtor for their listing (rider, flyers, extensive internet postings, hosted website, private website name for listing, virtual tours, maximum MLS photos, etc).

Podcasts have the option of showing a small video to potential buyers (somewhat similar to YouTube and virtual tours in a small way) and voice documentation.

Should be an interesting exploration and thank you for YOUR interest! I will post a sample when I have this feature mastered.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcasts.html

So WHO lives next door?

So when you have decided to "take the jump with us," there are so many things to consider beyond getting pre-qualified for the next home (which is top dog on your list), and getting your home prepared for the move. This includes renters too (you need to get that deposit back), you never know when that cash may come in handy for that GUARANTEED Home Depot or Lowe's run. "Hey I thought I had FOUR ROLLERS! The owners took the toilet paper roll holder ... SHEESH! Guess I am BACK to the store."

So back to the storyline, you need to "interview" your neighborhood. Sometimes stories get told after 7pm about the true workings of a neighborhood and/or on the weekends. This is not a time to be shy, introduce yourself to neighbors and see what they are like. No situation is PERFECT, but see what you are getting you (and possibly) others are investing into ... particularly if you are hoping to stay long-term somewhere. See what schools are zoned for that particular area and what parks are near by, if that interests you. Think about daily life for you.

When we moved into our neighborhood, we learned a lot about "court protocol" and who was who in the court. I later learned more, but we are happy where we are at ...

"So you say you have a key to our house ... Oh really!??!"
[me to Steve O] "We are going to 'ang-chay our EY-kays immediateLY."
(yes that is pig-latin a shot back to elementary school).

Beyond the "neighborhood interviewing," you also have to weigh what is important to you, yard, age of the home and the builder who built your home. Often people are swayed by the uniform look of builders in the past 15 years. Some people love this uniform look ... and that is great ... but make a home be functional for you too (yard size, maintenance of the yard, cleaning that new house, and social workings of the house).

Do you know what CCR's are? Do you know what HOA is and does your neighborhood have it (you have to include this in your considerations of price and cost of living)?

HOA: Home Owner Association: Dues for an Association and are generally put forth towards general grounds maintenance and the association.

CCR: Community Codes and Regulations (sometimes with different words swapped). This is the rules of the neighborhood and policies. These do not have monthly dues, but are the "requirements" which may or may not be enforced in your neighborhood. This can have a high appeal to some because it does keep neigbhorhoods in "check" if they are enforced. Those without HOA's it is hard to enforce CCR's and is often, if enforced, taken on by a group of dedicated neighbors. (examples: lawn being mowed, garbage cans not out more than 24 hours on the curb, light fixtures being replaced when out, etc). Sure there may be a few vigilant neighbors that you find pesky, but what is pesky, when a neighborhood is looking good?
Keep it perspective. Your neighbors up-keep is your money too and your home's worth.

Ask what a typical electricity bill is for the home? Are they PG&E? Are they SMUD or Roseville Electric? Things that are important in monthly financing for oneself.

Past neighborhood workings and monthly dues/bills, find out the functional workings of the new pad and it's location.

Is it a busy street? Does it dead end and work like a court? Do you HAVE to have a court home? Do you know how much it takes to maintain a pool or large yard? Decisions you need to mull over.

Now I am not writing this to stress you out, but to be prepared, makes you stronger and wiser.

Granted nothing in life has to be permanent, so consider this ... if you have the liberties and finances to get what you want, TAKE IT! There are so many amazing homes out there. Let us help you!

So when we decided to take the jump, we knew we wanted a court home, with having young children, and we wanted a yard and back garage. We wanted to have an outdoor space to have people over. Simple criteria. We wanted to an older home, that would need some help and we were not against a fixer. We knew the risks of a fixer, but WE got our inspections done (DON'T EVER EVER EVER pass up inspections people) and we took the plunge. Don't let a $20 dollar can of paint or simple carpet replacement get in the way of your visions. Some people want a completed home with "ready-to-go" appeal, others want to score a deal and do the work themselves. Know the pros and cons of both sides.

So start thinking about your life requirements in a home, whether this is your 1st home or 2nd or 3rd. Sometimes you have to start somewhere, and that "somewhere" isn't always glamorous. Everyone starts somewhere. Our first home was a 2-bd in a "not so luxurious" neighborhood. But I will tell you what, those were some of our nicest neighbors. Not every pretty neighborhood is what it seems.

Think long-term if finances provide, and or think in terms of "stepping stones" to your next home if you are slowly working to get to your dream home. Find out what your finances and needs are ... ask questions we can help!

Good luck!

We are not on the Showcase Showdown.

So Steve and I were at the gas station the other day and we had a friendly wager that it would not go over $50. As the numbers clicked wildly over 48 buckeroos, Steve started to yell "STOP STOP STOP." Thinking he was with Bob Barker spinning the wheel as it approached the $1 sign when he already had 55 cents, he didn't realize an older lady to his immediate right was backing up and reeled in horror as she thought she was running someone over.

Of course we apologized profusely, but I don't think it did much good.

Moral of the Story: Don't scream STOP STOP STOP when someone is backing up, you may be held accountable for a clean-up on Pump #4.

Our First Tuesday Night Fair in Roseville

Hello everyone,

So this is our first post. We have a lot more things to write about, but let's start with our most recent adventure, Roseville Downtown Tuesday Nights (the Farmer's Market in Old Town Roseville on Vernon). Some of you may or may not have heard of it. I had not heard of it until last year.

For those of you who DON'T know us, I am a graphic designer, Heather Brown Ostrom, and my husband, Steve Ostrom, is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. We work together as the RosevilleAndRocklin.com Team.

This was our first time (market virgins) to the Roseville Downtown Tuesday Nights. We were a wee bit excited, to say the least, and had no expectations. We did know, no matter what, we were going to enjoy ourselves.
So we loaded up our truck and headed over at 4pm, and set up our 10x10 booth tent. I was a little anxious (not to talk of course), but we had never set up a booth before, nor had Steve O. Steve wasn't nervous, so he calmed me down. Of course someone was in our vendor spot, par for the course for a day in the life of Heather (Brown) Ostrom, but the guy was awesome and gladly moved. Since that was the only mini-glitch, we were in GREAT SHAPE in my book.

It came all together thankfully; we got the tent up in one piece (thank you Rob) and it all looked amazing. I was very pleased that our mad dash the week previous, had paid off. Everything looked polished and presentable.

It was pretty darn hot on that asphalt for the first couple of hours, but once the sun went down, it was awesome weather.

Well not that you care, but we presented our new theme, "Make the Jump with Us." (see my little animation above???)

So we decided, well I did, that we had to present ourselves with a strong cohesive presentation. I ordered the banner (thank you SignsPlus), had matching (extra-long) embroidered shirts made (thank you Sew Cal), found pre-packaged goldfishes and Steve and I stapled 72 business cards into the bags. We were ready to go, laptop, flyers, all the real estate and marketing info any person could dream of ... Did we give out much, not really. But we had a GREAT time meeting people and chatting. The goldfish were naturally gone quite quickly and we had to ration towards the end.

We hoped our previous goldfish would become engrained in a parent's brain for a nano-second before it hit the trashcan. "Whar dat say, 'Make the Jump with Us?' Whar in Tar-HooTies does that Mean?!?! I dunnawanna jump. Crazy Realtors."

Of course, if we were REALLY lucky, the cheesy wrapper (with our attached business card) would lay on the bottom of a car floor eagerly waiting a tip of the wrapper to release it's crackery venom on the bottom of an innocent parent's car.

Most people don't know, but all mom's know (and clean crazy dads) that to clean up goldfish crackers in a car, is near impossible. Our goldfish will be the gift that keeps on giving. That's right, the RosevilleAndRocklin.com Team will be with you FOReVer in the form of an orange crumb (more like 1000+ crumbs). Enough said.

Well after we were done with goldfish distribution, meeting great people and closing shop we had many solid leads, made a lot of new acquaintances with people who came up and also with other vendors and business owners. IT was a great night.

I ALMOST got the group to our right to centipede for me on the ground, but it didn't pan out. They did offer to spin on their backs for me if had some cardboard, but I said it was centipede or nothing (they were awesome and if you are looking for a softball league ... they are the ones to call). I can remember every word of their DVD, but that is all.

Well here is a pic of our booth.

If you actually read this all, you must be a friend or family member.

Did I mention Pickup Stix was there? That alone made the trip FAN-Tastic!