Diamond River Currents...Monadnock Region...Keene, NH

Susan Haughton, of Alexandria, VA hits this one out of the park!  A good lesson reminding REALTORs that the homebuying process can be overwhelming and our "must haves" are negotiable.  Even when we're absolutely, positively adamant that they are not.

And, for those of you "outside" our crazy industry...let this put your mind at ease!  Some of us really do "get it!"  and that's the truth!  :)

Keene NH Realtor® braves Boston RainCamp and lives to blog about it!

I've been a member of Active Rain since October 2007.  My point accumulation is nothing to write home about, since I've been more of a reader and commenter than a blogger.  I'm ranked as the #1 real estate agent in Cheshire County and Keene, NH, but that's more a result of the lack of AR members in my neck of the woods than anything else.  It's easy to get complacent when you don't have much competition, but my complacency isn't paying the bills or bringing me the business I know is out there for me.

Having spent almost three years lurking and learning, commenting and connecting, I know that this blogging thing has helped thousands of AR members increase their business, even in a less-than-stellar market, and I know it's time to start putting it to work for me.

Enter:  RainCamp Boston                                                                                         

"WOW" doesn't even begin to do it justice.  Ben Kinney really knows his stuff and has the ability to deliver the goods with a humor and ease that makes even the most "long-tail-S-E-O-say-what?" among us relax and let the information just soak in.  All the snippets of information I'd been gleaning and testing online suddenly started to make sense.  I have a much clearer picture of what I'm doing right, and more importantly, what I'm doing wrong.  I'm actually able to connect the dots of the various Social Media platforms, and I left Boston's Seaport Amphitheater confident that I can accomplish it.  That, my friends, is not only encouraging, it's empowering.

My advice to my fellow Active Rainers?  Get thee to RainCamp!

If you're committed to bringing your business to the next level, it really is a no-brainer.

BUT WAIT....There's MORE!

Did you know that there are real, live human beings behind those profile pictures?  Seriously!  I've seen it for myself.  RainCamp is an extraordinary opportunity to travel through the looking glass computer screen and connect with some of the folks you've been "socializing" with right here on AR. 

During my time here on Active Rain, I've made some really great friends.  I can safely say that at least 30% of my Facebook Friends are people I've met through AR.  Some have become such close friends that it's easy to forget that I've never actually met them.  We're able to get acquainted a bit more easily through reading blogs or commenting on Facebook updates or re-tweeting 140-character-or-less epiphanies.  Social media often allows us a little more insight into what makes people tick, and I think we're better able to bond without some of the boundaries that we might have to maneuver IRL. (that's In Real Life...and don't feel bad, I didn't know either ‘til my kids told me)

But...every now and then we might just have the chance to see beyond the keyboard voice and profile pic. 

 I was able to re-connect with my favorite "wedding crasher"  after nearly 24 years!

I exchanged FB messages with my newest Facebook Friend, Connecticut's own "Running Realtor", like we were passing notes in school.  I was fortunate to have lunch with some terrific real estate agents and stagers, including New Hampshire's own Sharon Tara, and I finally got a chance to apologize to former Keene, NH resident, Liz Bolton (who moved to Cambridge right around the time I moved to Westmoreland, NH) for not following up on some fabulous blog ideas she had for me.

To transition from info-surge to life as we know it, our day of inspiration and education was followed by the after-party where we could all begin to relax and make the most of a little more "facetime".  I so enjoyed chatting over a glass of wine with Marianne Cherico and Annie (I wish I could remember her last name!!) about staging, antique homes, kids in college and facing the ups and downs of a challenging market.

Sadly, it wasn't until today that I realized that I missed catching up with some of the folks who were there.  (A great reason for AR to provide a list of attendees, so we don't miss our "connections" Hint, hint, AR gods)  Crystal, we won't make that mistake again, my friend!

I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all!  I sure didn't see anyone grousing.  Reeling from information overload, perhaps, but definitely not grousing!

Some things to remember, when you attend your region's RainCamp:

Bring your laptop or, at least, a notebook.  You'll need it to write down a lot of stuff.  I typed up six pages of notes and wish I'd taken more!

Bring business cards.  Lots of them.

Get a good night's sleep the day before.  You want to be fresh and ready to soak everything in.

Seasoned pro or nervous newbie, be prepared to be blown away.

Oh, and if you want to be one of lucky owners of an official RainCamp t-shirt, don't just sit there.

Trust me on that one!

Read the post below, watch the video, sign the petition.  Will it help?  Perhaps.  I'd like to think it will.  It certainly won't hurt.  If you'd like to share the link on your own blogs, FB pages, etc. you'll find a link when you watch the video. 

Forget the blame for now.  There are bigger problems to address, and it's easy for us to forget that when we're not right there living it.

Doing nothing begets nothing.

I love open houses.  I love attending them, and I love hosting them.  Today's my lucky day!

I'm holding my fabulous 18 Morgan Lane, Keene listing open today, June 5, from 1:00--3:00pm.  This beautiful colonial has all the features today's buyers demand and then some.  Located in Meadowview Knolls in West Keene, you'll find this wonderful family home on a quiet cul-de-sac in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Keene, NH. 

You know, I could go on and on, but pictures are worth a thousand words, so take a peek below.  Also, be sure to click on the link to see even more pictures and information. Then, plan on stopping by for a visit.  If you think the photos are enticing, just wait until you see it "live and in person"...you'll fall in love!

And I really love it when *that* happens!

18 Morgan Lane, Keene, NH 03431 For more information visit: www.18MorganLane.com For Sale $379,900   You've been biding your time...and it was worth the wait. More Photos Below Bedrooms: 4 + Bathrooms: 3 2 Full, 1 3/4 Area: Meadowview Knolls, West Keene Style: House Lot Size: .39 acres Year Built: 1992 Your patience and persistence have paid off. This beautiful colonial delivers the "wants" and the "needs". Granite and stainless in the eat-in kitchen. Plenty of room to relax or entertain in the huge, fireplaced family room featuring gorgeous windows, oak floors and brick hearth. Escape to your Master Bedroom suite which offers a spa-like bath with jetted tub, separate steam shower and dual-sink vanity. 3 additional bedrooms and another full bath to keep the kids close, but not too close! Find your peace and quiet in the den with window seat and built-ins. The basement level offers even more great family space..built-in office area plus large rec room for exercise or play, closets galore and mudroom entry from the 2-car garage. Still want more? You've got it: formal DR and LR, huge deck w/built-in seating, sep. rear entrance to additional main level mudroom, beautiful landscaping, peaceful dead-end location yet still easy access to the association pool/tennis/clubhouse and just a few minutes from Downtown Keene. Truly a dream come true! Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac   A place for your family to call home   Family Room Stunning, comfortable and spacious. Gorgeous floor to ceiling brick with raised hearth. And those windows? ...swoon...   Family Room Plenty room for all your family and friends to enjoy.   Family Room Cozy up by the fireplace to enjoy the game.   Family Room So inviting...feels like "home"   Kitchen Be a part of everything from the kitchen.   Kitchen Brand new granite and stainless appliances await your culinary adventures.   Kitchen Bay window to enjoy the beauty outdoors.   Kitchen When the dishes are done, step through the sliding glass door to your huge deck.   Kim Brown Diamond River Realty LLC Office: 603-358-3123 Mobile: 603-545-1632 Fax: 603-352-4822 Email: kim@diamondriverrealty.com Website: DiamondRiverRealty.com Powered by AgencyLogic

You've been biding your time...and it was worth the wait.

Your patience and persistence have paid off.

This beautiful colonial delivers the "wants" and the "needs".

 Granite and stainless in the eat-in kitchen.    

  Plenty of room to relax or entertain in the huge, fireplaced family room featuring gorgeous windows, oak floors and brick hearth.

Escape to your Master Bedroom suite which offers a spa-like bath with jetted tub, separate steam shower and dual-sink vanity.

(And there are 3 additional bedrooms and another full bath to keep the kids close, but not too close!)

Find your peace and quiet in the den with window seat and built-ins.

The basement level offers even more great family space..built-in office area plus large rec room for exercise or play, closets galore and mudroom entry from the 2-car garage.

Still want more? You've got it: formal DR and LR, huge deck w/built-in seating, separate rear entrance to an additional main level mudroom, beautiful landscaping, peaceful dead-end location yet still easy access to the association pool/tennis/clubhouse and just a few minutes from Downtown Keene, NH.

Truly a dream come true!

***Plus...there's still a little time left to qualify for the IRS Homebuyers' Tax Credit, but you'll have to have a contract in place before May 1, 2010. (note:  I said "contract"...you have through June 30, 2010 to close!)*** 

Visit www.18MorganLane.com for more pics and links or give me a call to set up a showing.  I'd be delighted to take you through, but I warn you:  once you get there, you may never want to leave!

What have you done for me lately? is hardly the mantra of a professional who is putting their clients' interests first. 

Is it me?  I read a blog post this morning in which the author asks whether or not she should stop referring her clients to a mortgage professional who, by her own account, does a top-notch job for her clients.

He's efficient, thorough, and gets the job done.  So...what's the problem?  Glad you asked.  The problem is that "he doesn't reciprocate."  The author has sent him lots of business, and he hasn't returned the favor.  In fact, she even informed him that he'd better remember that business referrals are a two-way street or else she would cease to refer him.

It's clear that the author knows how to do her job.  She obviously knows a good mortgage pro when she sees one, and she recognizes the value he provides to her clients.  However, I can't help but walk away from her post believing that she feels cheated. He does a good job but...

But what?  He does a good job.  Isn't that enough?  Isn't that what we expect?  Isn't that what we look for in the service providers we recommend?  In today's world, a great mortgage pro is worth his/her weight in gold.  To stop referring an excellent provider simply because they don't return the favor, regardless of how good a job they do for our clients, is just a wee bit self-serving, is it not? 

Want to grow your business?  Give your clients the very best.   Refer them to the very best.

Do that and watch what happens...when someone asks them to refer the real estate agent they believe is the very best, they will undoubtedly think of you. 

That's the two-way street you'll find my business on. 

Most of us are familiar with this common bedtime rhyme:

Good night...sleep tight!  Don't let the bed bugs bite!

Apparently, a bed bug infestation can happen anywhere...in luxury hotels, apartment buildings, college dorms or homes.  Housekeeping, or lack of it, has little to do with a bed bug's chosen place of residence.  They're not picky, as long as there are humans or other warm-blooded animals to provide them with their sustenance. These uninvited guests bite their host, feed on their blood, and leave their hapless victim itchy as all get-out.

According to a recent article in The New York Times, this resurgence (or perhaps it's just renewed awareness?) of the pests has not only brought additional business to exterminators, but has also led to a new business niche for (wo)man's best friend:  Dogs That Detect Bed Bugs.

How long before we start adding companies like New York City's The Bed Bug Inspectors to our list of service providers we recommend to our real estate clients?

Fortunately, I haven't heard of any major infestations here in the Keene, NH area.  But still, just writing this has made me itchy, so I'm hitting the shower...

This is a terrific analogy to explain the importance of staging your home for sale.  And, since I couldn't have said it better myself, I'm delighted that Pangaea has allowed it to be re-blogged so I can share it with my readers.

Let's face it, these days your home is up against a lot of competition, and Buyers can afford to be very choosy.

Staging doesn't mean you have to rip everything in your home down to the studs {no pun intended! :) }...but you do want to make the most of what you've got to offer.

So, read on...and if you're interested in learning more about what you can do to give your Cheshire County home a leg up in today's market, give me a call!  As a staging-consultant-turned-real-estate-agent, I have a few tricks up my sleeve, along with some sound advice, that can help you get your Keene, NH home sold quickly so you can get on with your life!

After months, or even years, of working toward your goal of buying a home in Keene or the surrounding towns of Cheshire County, NH, the time has come!  

You've sacrificed and saved, carefully built and maintained your credit and collected countless recipes for budget-friendly meals built around ramen noodles.

At last, you are ready to begin the process...

Being the financially responsible person that you are, you've already researched and discussed various loan products with a mortgage professional.  You've kept abreast of current interest rates, down payment requirements, etc. and are finally ready to reap the reward of your careful planning and preparation.

While your favorite real estate pro is working on compiling a list of potential properties that meet your needs, you sit down with your favorite mortgage expert to take the plunge and begin the application process.

You've done your homework, and you know that in order to be in a position of strength when you are ready to make an offer on your dream home, you need that pre-approval from your lender.  The document that tells the sellers that you are worthy!  You can and will put your money where your mouth is. 

The Golden Ticket to gain admission into the Wonderful World of Homeownership.

Having submitted the necessary information and documentation to your loan officer, you are confident in your credit-worthiness.  You didn't scrimp and save and forego vacations, dining out and that incredible flat-screen TV for nothing!  Pull that credit report, Mr. Mortgage Pro...and let's get this show on the road....

~~~~<RECORD SCRATCH>~~~~

"I'm sorry, Mr. and Ms. Pennywise...your credit score is considerably below our guidelines.  The maxed-out, past-due credit cards are a real problem.  There are some serious blemishes on the report which need to be cleared up before we can consider offering you a loan..."

"SAY WHAT???"

Turns out that while you were busy living a life of frugality, Joe Slime has gotten ahold of enough of your personal information to have himself a major shopping spree.  He's racked up all kinds of debt, courtesy of your identity, which he has absolutely no intention of paying.

So what's a financially responsible, frugality-embracing, ramen-noodle gourmand to do in order to avoid becoming a victim of Joe Slime?

Proactivity is the name of the game!  Here, courtesy of fellow Active Rainer Nevin Williams, a mortgage broker with First Priority Financial, are some links and suggestions for keeping tabs on what's going on with your credit while you chow down on your 14th variation of Ramen Noodle Cassoulet:

              COMMIT TO CONDUCTING A REGULAR CREDIT REVIEW

You can pull 3 credit reports a year at no cost.  (One from each of the major credit reporting agencies.)

Where:  www.annualcreditreport.com 

Instead of pulling all three at once, consider pulling one from each credit bureau every four months.

Set up a FRAUD ALERT with the credit bureaus. (click on the link for details on how to initiate this and for information regarding any charges for this service.)

YOU MAY WANT TO REQUEST A CREDIT FREEZE

Where: Experian    Transunion    Equifax 

(Click on the individual credit reporting agency links for details pertaining to each agency's requirements and any fees involved.)

These suggestions are for those who prefer the Do-It-Yourself approach to monitoring credit activity.

There are companies who will, for a monthly fee, monitor your credit for you.

However, it's important to remember that the cost of this service can be about $30 per month.

That's $360 a year.  And $360 buys a lot of ramen noodles!  ;-)

Don't bury your head in the sand...Joe Slime counts on the ostriches to maintain his luxurious lifestyle.

Stay alert, stay informed, and stay on track.

While Joe is busy working his way toward the Big House, you can be creating another ramen noodle delight for your in-laws in your Dream House!

Plenty of space for cookouts, outdoor play and gardening surrounds this classic Keene, NH 2-family New Englander, featuring identical 2-bedroom/1-bath units, complete with screen porches, updated systems and separate utilities.  Charming original features include beautiful hardwood flooring, high tin ceilings and large windows to bring the sunshine in!  Build equity, generate income, and perhaps plan for the expansion of the existing building to incorporate a third apartment for even more rental income!

Imagine a comfortable, affordable lifestyle in which you can enjoy all the benefits and culture of Keene city living while generating additional income from a 2-bedroom apartment.  Take in a show at The Colonial Theater, grab a bite to eat at Luca's Mediterranean Cafe, The Stage, Armadillos Burritos or any of the numerous and varied restaurants along Main Street.Priced right at just $189,500! But wait!...There's more: Owner-occupied unit may qualify for the IRS Homebuyer Tax Credit.(Don't delay, it expires soon--home must be under contract before May 1, 2010 and must close before July 1, 2010)  Consult your tax pro to see if you qualify for either the $8,000 or $6,500 credit.

What more could you want?  How about proximity to Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock Keene, area schools (this home is in the Fuller School district) and the Keene Rec Center?  Perhaps a little higher education is in order...Keene State College offers a multitude of full-time and part-time educational opportunities.

So...what do you say?  Want to know more?  Additional details and photos of this amazing property are below.  Take a peek, and if you'd like more info, give me a call or shoot me an email or find me on Facebook!  I'd be delighted to introduce you to your future...

Great 2-Family on Large, level .43 Acre In-Town Lot in Keene, NH REDUCED to $189,500

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood

$189,500 Multi Family For Sale Main Features 4 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 Units Interior: 1881 sqft Lot: 0.43 acre(s) Location 81 Armory Street Keene, NH 03431

---

Kim Brown Diamond River Realty LLC (603) 358-3123 kim@diamondriverrealty.com http://www.diamondriverrealty.com Listed by: Kim Brown

Our recent listings First-Time Buyers, Owner-Occupied or Savvy Investors--Great Opportunity under $200k in Keene, NH Classic Ranch in Great West Keene Neighborhood Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Keene, NH real estate for sale