Steve Ostrom: Great in '08

Okay I want to boast about how great my hubbie is ... Steve has been asked to speak at a Monday morning motivational meeting labeled "Great in '08."
I am proud of you Steve Ostrom. Not only a great husband, dad and friend, but a great salesperson. I love you and I am so proud of how well you are doing. Thanks for letting me be along for the ride.

What the flyer says:

About our Presenters
Stay ahead of the game and plan
today for a Great 2008! Our panel
presenters will provide for you
terrific business ideas that have
worked for them this past year to
consistently produce business!
pictured from top left:
-- four other names removed for privacy ---
• Steve Ostrom- roseville
granite bay office

Other snippet:
"The internet has changed the way consumers shop for
a home; we must be prepared to get them through
both doors: the front door as well as the one on the
internet.
Be prepared to communicate first by LISTENING.
Listening is comprised of the following:
o Body Language (mirroring)
o Intensity Level (play the part- be ‘there’)
o Notes (taking good notes)
o Determination to Understand Consumer
o Eye Contact
o Readiness to Respond with Dialogue/ Scripts

What the Shell!?!

So for all of these years from reading household tips here and there INCLUDING a well-known home network, I have read that putting your egg shells down the disposal either cleaned/aided a faltering disposal and/or sharpened the blades. All these years here I thought I was doing an innocent task of throwing my little shells down the drain and chopped those bad boys in the disposal was helping and not creating problems ...

So we had a friend of ours visit recently who works in the water waste treatment industry and has informed me that I should NOT put those shells in the disposal. I should put them in the trash as well as coffee grounds (or for you compost types, you know what to do). I don't know the exact reasons why, but supposed the egg shells don't break down as they need to happen.

I knew coffee grinds were not good for the drain as well as potatoes, but now I happily add egg shells to my list.

Don't believe me google: egg+shells+disposal
I don't know all the literal reasons WHy it is bad to do, I just trust my buddy it is as he is in the industry and he seemed pretty passionate about it. SO I am running with it. Typically I ask TOO many questions, but I knew we were heading in a chemical and processing issue direction and at that point I took his word for it.

I hear the egg shell remedy often so I thought sharing this info may help you too! Help the waste water people out (they have enough &*^% on their plate-pun intended)

Two wonderful homes in Roseville!

See our newest listing with all the photos and virtual tours: 1633 Avondale, Roseville, CA 95747: $649,900 at the premier gated community of Esquire at Crocker Ranch. www.GreatRosevilleHome.com
Five/Four Bedroom, Four Car Garage, Private Courtyard and Bonus/2nd Family Room.
Gated community, call to see this home: 916-308-2446.

Below is a photo collage of the home.




Also see our Roseville listing: www.GreatHomeInRoseville.com
For the new price of $349,999. A great home for a fantastic price very close to a park and blocks from Catheryn Gates Elementary.

Good Thanksgiving Day Weekend Project: Making Your Address to Read

It is now the Holiday season officially? Is your heart racing out of panic yet? Mine is ... and with that remember your safety and health during these times to take extra precautions for emergency vehicles to find you or your family as quickly as possible.

Accidents do happen and all we can do is be prepared.

One big and EASY thing to do this weekend is to look at something you may not always think about .. curbside numbers. We would like to encourage you to take a look at your curbside numerals this weekend. Have they faded from the cold or just age? Can you read them clearly from a distance? Are your numbers on the side of your house clearly stated and not covered by limbs of trees or bushes?

Take a good look ... if an emergency was to take place at your home or a neighbors, could they (emergency vehicles: fire dept, police, ambulance) find your address easily? It should be clearly stated in FOUR inch lettering in either reflective paint or a high contrast color (preferably black). You cannot just rely on house numerals for quick ID.

This particular pertains to those who have ornate or script numerals on their house, it is imperative you have stenciled numbers on your curb in FRONT of YOUR house or easily read on a clearly marked mailbox. A stencil is still preferred over all, but best in conjunction with all three (for example if a vehicle was on the curb blocking the numbers stenciled on the ground, they could refer to a mailbox or your house?).
We don't have ours on our mailbox, but it is easy to read on our sidewalk thanks to a very kind neighbor. A small yet powerful gift.

I found this website very interesting and I hope you do too.
http://ar.essortment.com/emergencyunits_njf.htm

Take care and be proactive not reactive in your safety measures.

The fire

Steve's family has still been kept from their homes in San Diego (Poway, CA) as well as his sister and her family in Pauma Valley. To all of our friends and family down South you are in our prayers and thoughts. We hope the fire is taken care of as quickly as possible. Our positive vibes are with you. We love you Ostroms and Friends.

Donate to the Red Cross

Garage Sale=Brush up on Negotiation Skills

So we decided to have a garage sale. We were lying a little heavy on kid's stuff so we thought it was time and perhaps a good way to meet some new neighbhors. What an interesting day. Met a lot of great folks and met some serious negotiators. Phewy!

Garage Sale again, hmmm not sure about that, but it was a fun day. I couldn't believe how MANY people there were at three solid points throughout the day. Unbelievable. Was it the signage or was it the Craigslist post? Not sure. But I do know this, Sunday was a worthless day to have a garage sale after Saturday. Not a smart idea"-er" during Football season. And the most interesting phenomena the last minute vulture that arrives during the last posted hour or soon thereafter ... they know you are ready to be D-O-N-E. Oh they know you are vulerable. SURE I will give away the rollerblades you seem super nice, sure you can have the aquarium for $3. It was fun and people were so happy to get unexpected free treasures. Good times, but then it came to a screeching halt. Curtains, brand new? Five dollars, firm.

Never had I thought negotiating over brand new curtains would be so much work. One lady had the "walk-away" down to an art. I wouldn't budge. For some reason I couldn't budge on my curtains. Was it because I sensed this lady was a pro, perhaps? At one point it all became principal based. No way lady, no way, I simply cannot give up that dollar (what?!?!). No way for four!

Lady: "Well what if you threw in the duvet I will give you five."
Me: No
Lady: Okay I don't want any of it.
Me: Have a great day.

Lady: "Okay how about all of these clothes with the curtains for four dollars."

(wow this lady is tough).
"Nope. I have a friend I can give them to if I get that much. Sorry."
Lady: "Alright here is your five dollars."


I waited till she was out of view and then I did my best MaryLou Retton double back twist to a stuck landing. Wow what a battle. This is a condensed version. This all was in between a lot of pacing and back-and-forths. She even had a cute dog to almost distract me and give in. She was a pro. Oh what a cute dog, GIMME YOUR CURTAINS!

I had NO tough cookies, except for her, so it was a relatively easy day. But I did give away most of the stuff, because I figured it was better in a home where an item was used than collecting dust.

But I enjoyed that dollar so much that I made off my curtains and I went a little wild and bought myself a soda at Sam's club with that divine crunchy ice. Ahhh ... the thrill of victory.

We got rid of so much nice baby items and it went to homes where they would be recycled and loved again.


Unfortunately it was not a perfect day as my Redskins lost to FavRrrrreeee and the Green Bay Packers. As SpongeBob cleanly says, "Tartersauce!"

www.National-Open-House.com

Is your house on the market? Come be a part of the National Open House November 4th! Anyone can participate.

Tired of the negativity on the news? Rarely have we been hearing or seeing positive real estate experiences, but they do exist. Why don't you be a part of a positive experience and join up for our NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE. People from all across the nation are joining up. Again ANYONE is welcome to participate. And it is free. It is out of the good will of a group of REALTORS® and assistants.

Visit the website, ask your REALTOR® to sign up, FSBOs (For Sale By Owners) sign up. This is a Nationwide event. Steve and I want to have our hand in orchestrating a positive real estate experience, why don't you join us? Sign up today.

More updates coming to the site soon:
www.National-Open-House.com