Kim Wood - Greater Chester County PA Real Estate

Yep. I'm bragging again.  I got to another meetup!!!  Yay!  The Virginia Association of Realtors had their annual conference in Baltimore this year - which was too close to pass up.  They were very welcoming to this Chester County PA Realtor!

As Teresa says, "It's great to meet the people who live in my computer."  It's actually fun, because not only have I met people for the first time, putting @s to real people (Jeremy, Candy, Sarah, Drew, Matt, Natalie, Tony, Matt & Jennifer, Danilo), but seeing people again that I have met before! (Sarah, John, Daniel, Ben, Heather, Bryan, Jovan, Tina, Brian)

Most of the time, I'm not suprised at all by what people are like IRL (in real life) and this was no different.

I was only able to be in Baltimore for 24 hours - but we packed in a lot of fun in that time!!!

Pictures say it best...........

And once again, I thank ActiveRain........ it all began here! At ActiveRain ! Getting to know people through blogging...... @Twitter has been where we've gotten closer.... but I'd say it all started on ActiveRain, and I don't know if I'd even be on Twitter had I not heard of it here!  THANK YOU AR !!!

My quick tips are what I'd hoped them to be.... something so simple and "missed" by many. (Of course many of you already knew & used the things I shared - and that's great!).

I wish I remembered where I read this - so I could credit that person with the time it's saved - and the wear and tear on my hands, lol.....  all I remember is that it was in my feed reader..........

When using Internet Explorer or Firefox - to open a new tab, simply double click in the space it would go!

How was I doing it before? Right click on tab, left click "Open New Tab". Yes, I was.... so I figure there are a few more people out there doing the same thing.

Go try!  It's been a great new trick I've used many times this week!

Others:

Quick Tip: How to get an Answer for your Email
Quick Tip from my College Kid

What Hat Do You Wear?

In our lifes as REALTORS (R) we learn to put on different hats depending on what tasks are upon us.  Mommy, Seller agent, Tough Game Day agent, Divorce mediator,  etc.

Are You YOU?

However, what hat to do put on daily? Who are you? I am very transparent in my life - I am ME. That's it. I'm just Me. Whether I'm talking to you as your Real Estate Agent, as your Business Associate, your online friend, your newest networking contact, your latest face-to-face meetup - I AM ME.

Do you Hide Behind a Hat?

Who are you online? Who are you on ActiveRain? On Twitter? What happens when you meet face-to-face? Are people surprised? Most of the people I have meet up with, it has been a great pleasure. They are just like I've gotten to know them in the circles I travel online.

However, I can't say that about everyone that I've met, I wish I could. Some people become someone they want to be online - then you meet in person - and the truth comes out. They hide behind someone they want to be.

Be YOU

Can I just say that it is not worth it to become someone else. It will bite you in the butt. Trust me on this one. Being deceitful, dishonest, or a fake will come back to bite you in some way or another. I will go out on a limb and speak for most of the online communities - We want to know you. Really! YOU. No, everyone is not going to get along with everyone. But isn't it better that you are liked for who you are; not who you have faked you to be?

No Matter Who - Be You !

People are smart. They can read phoney's. When you meet with clients - be straight with them. When you are connecting with other Real Estate Agents - be straight with them. There isn't any use in pretending to be someone/something you aren't - THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS WIN.  (Maybe not right away - but it will win.)

Today, Saturday, September 20th, 2008 is Puppy Mill Awareness Day. So be aware. There are dogs and puppies living in and around Chester County, PA that could at the least, use our thoughts today. They live in deplorable conditions and are abused terribly.

I wrote a post, Please Help I Have a Heartbeat Too, which continues to be one of the top clicked through links. Sometimes the news we bring isn't happy news. Sometimes its sad news. However, I am shocked at the stories from people when I ask where they got their new pet they are excited about that it could have begun at a source as a Puppy Mill.

Pet stores, Newspaper Ads, Signs on the Road, Internet Ads..... are all possible sources for pets breed from Puppy Mills. If they continue to make money selling them; they are not going to stop what they are doing. Take action! Spread the word!

United Against Puppy Mills has a large voice right now. I've seen bumper stickers all over Chester County in my travels about while selling Chester County Houses.

If you are looking for a puppy, please be sure and check out the many rescues in the area. One of my favorites is Main Line Rescue - but there are lots!

Stop Puppy Mills Ribbon Picture courtesy of Feral Indeed!

Original Post Stop Puppy Mills on WestofPhillyBurbs.com

You can visit fine homes on Chester County Day in the southwestern quadrant of Chester County this year, including Birmingham, Chadds Ford, Chatham, Cochranville, East Fallowfield, Kennett Square, Lincoln University, New London, Unionville, West Grove and West Chester.

Every year Chester County Day kicks off with a Fox Hunt demonstration early in the morning. Although sometimes rainy, I'm always glad that Mom insists we begin on the rolling hills of Chester County at the Hunt.

This year, the tour is October 4th, always the first Saturday in October. You can begin your tour at any of the 25 homes on the schedule at 10:00am and have to leave your last by 5:00pm. Tickets are $35.00 and can be purchased at locations around Chester County or online. It is helpful to attend one of the previews so you can decide what homes are a *sure to see* on your list (you don't have time to see them all).

Not only is it an experience in itself to tour the exquisite homes, land, antiques, and prized collections of the gracious owners, but a way to support the local Chester County Hospital, one of the odd non-profit, independent hospitals. This event has raised more than $3.5 million since it began 68 years ago.

And for me? It's one of my favorite times to spend with people I love! Usually our van includes: Myself, Mom, Aunt, Cousin/BFF, Sister in law, dd AChrome22, and maybe this year dd Princess19 (we say over 18 yrs only). We have fun tailgating every couple of stops (Mom is still hoping for a silver goblet for her mimosas), passing the open champagne bottle duty, snacking, laughing, and counting how many homes we can get to. I think we make it to about 5-6 - you can definitely do more! I can't go into more detail, because "What happens on Chester County Day are memories among us" you have to see for yourself. We divy out the duties for Designated Driver, Navigator (Hilda, the GPS has sort of taken over this), and Food & Beverage Coordinator. I hope Bertha Snell is ready this year.

Check it out. Selected Chester County Homes to see will not disappoint - and the quadrant this year will take us to some beautiful countryside.

The homes are the tour are usually not for sale. If you are interested in homes that are for sale in Chester County to see in person, contact me for a private Chester County Day tour :)

Original Post Here

REBlogWorld is here!! I know there are many people out there ready and excited to hop in the plane, train, or automobile and head to the great city of Las Vegas!!!

I will miss being there, with many of my friends.... and so many I want to meet.......

Y'all have lots of fun..... make sure you learn a little and network a lot :) With the agenda that is planned - I have event envy of the speakers/topics too !  Keep in touch - twitter, flickr, etc... I'll be joining you in thoughts!

If you are in Las Vegas and want to jump in on the fun - get in touch with Todd Carpenter - it might not be too late!

REBlog World
Las Vegas Convention Center
Friday, September 19th

Followed by BlogWorld & New Media Expo

If you live in the Greater Chester County Area there are plenty of shopping malls centers you'll want to visit! Back to School Shopping continues and as the season changes you'll want to hit the stores for some "bundle-up" clothing! Here are some to get you started in the Chester County Surrounding Area:

King of Prussia Mall
160 N Gulph Rd
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 265-5727

Exton Square Mall
260 Exton Square Mall
Exton, PA 19341
(610) 363-2860

Coventry Mall
351 W Schuylkill Rd
Pottstown, PA 19465
(610) 327-0700

Plymouth Meeting Mall
500 W Germantown Pike #L150
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 825-9351

Philadelphia Premium Outlets
18 Lightcap Rd
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 495-9000

Park City Mall 1
42 Park City Center
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717) 393-3851

Tanger Outlets
311 Stanley K Tanger Blvd
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 392-7260

Rockvale Square Outlets
35 S Willowdale Dr
Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 293-9595

Have fun shopping! And if you are shopping to buy a home in Chester County - I'd love to help!

Helping guide Buyers research homes in Chester County they are interested in purchasing is part of my job as a Real Estate agent in Chester County.

The Environmental Protection Agency website should be required reading for Buyers of homes in any area. The website addresses concerns and/or possibilities of environmental and hazardous conditions including Asbestos, Flood Maps, Hazardous Waste, Lead, Mercury, Mold, Radon, Superfund Sites, and more.

As a part of your Agreement of Sale to purchase a home in Chester County, you can elect contingencies that allow you to hire a professional to inspect many different items and conditions in the home.

Many of the environmental issues can be corrected, however, it's important to get educated in order to make the best decision involving your real estate transaction. If a home you are interested in purchasing is found to have any concerns, you might be able to ask the seller to rectify the situation. Consult your real estate expert for further information.

Original Post Here

Did you decide its time to work towards Inbox Zero but you aren't sure how to go about it?

It can be very overwhelming depending on how many emails have piled up in there.

Get Control of your Inbox:

1. Move all of your messages from your inbox to a folder labeled "Clean up"- Now this doesn't mean that you will let this folder sit there with your messages in there. This is so that you feel good about inbox zero and take care of your incoming mail immediately. Refer back to the post on Inbox Zero on how to take action on the messages that come in.
2. Create Folders anticipating the Move- I have a folder labeled CLIENTS then subfolders of the client last name or property street name if its a listing. You may also stop here and think about what else you know you'd like to keep - and how to organize them. IE: Keep (I put login confirmations, passwords etc there) , Print (things sometimes stay here for a while, but things I think I'd like to print someday), Prospects, etc. (Not all of my folders, I have a lot that are automatically filled with filtered messages - another topic).
3. Make Friends with the DELETE button - (You already know you can select a group of messages with click, shift and click, right?)
        a. Organize by Subject - Most programs allow you to click on the toolbar above the messages to organize in that category - so click on Subject.  By doing this you can delete junk, messages about last years summer vacation plans, jokes, etc. DELETE, DELETE, DELETE.
       b. Organize by Sender - If Aunt Mary is always sending you the political jokes, etc. you can easily just DELETE DELETE DELETE the bulk of her emails.
4. Moving, Moving, Moving - Toggle between organize by Subject & Sender while you move emails into the folder you created above that you'd like to keep.
5. Respond - then - DELETE - Go ahead and type a one paragraph max note back to the old emails that have grown spider webs while you get a second to reply. Then... DELETE!
6. Operation Inbox Complete - If you haven't done any of the above with what is left - the rule is they all get the DELETE button! Gone!

You can clean your folder in spurts if its large like mine.... sometimes I'll even DELETE through while on the telephone - if it doesn't take much thought process.  Multi tasking - but whatever it is - just get it done !!!

Inbox Zero..... Inbox empty..... You in control of your inbox ...... Have you seen this lately?

Not me.... my inbox is in charge of me, not me in charge of my inbox - that is not good.  See, I'm good at knowing *what* to do... but doing it is another thing.

I'm listening to Merlin Mann's "Inbox Zero" talk again while I'm working on it.

Do you remember email back in the late 90's ?  (Some of you remember it before then:)  I remember checking the email box every couple of days - and sometimes getting a message in there.  Now, I check it all day, and it floods.

Part of what you have to remember to get control of your inbox is to process each and every time you check your email.

Take care of each email as you read it - does it need to be moved to a file? replied to? deleted? It does not need to sit in your inbox.

Merlin has five verbs that he uses for his system in the order of his desirability to act on each email

1. DELETE (or Archive) 
2. DELEGATE
3. RESPOND
4. DEFER
5. DO

Learn to use your email application to its potential! I think all of them have filters.... if Aunt Mary always sends you jokes, set up a filter to auto delete emails from Aunt Mary with fwd: in the subject! 

If you are starting with an inbox like mine (3100), you might consider deleting the entire thing. I am planning to move all of those into a folder "Old Emails" today, so I can start clean. Then as I have some extra minutes - clean out the "Old Emails" folder.

And as I stepped over to ActiveRain to share with you procrasinate tackling my inbox, I wish you well in your endeavors to keep control of yours! Feel free to share your best tips below....

NEW FOLLOW UP POST:  Inbox Zero | How to