Is there a way to blend/link such summaries into search or as a lead-in to search?Honestly, I think that what I have done with my Neighborhood series has been very good, despite my recent hiatus – I provide good, searchable, Long Tail content and then within the post, I sometimes provide a link to search for homes in that neighborhood…. At the same time, would it be useful to provide the opportunity to “tag” a listing with a blog post or series of blog posts?I would LOVE to be able to include a link to neighborhood content…. With the innovations from Google and others in annotating maps, it might be interesting to see what would happen if agents or customers were able to define their own areas and have those be saved and shared with others…. Unfortunately, I think that too few Realtors have this point of view or access to discussions such as this to even see this perspective.Ultimately, I think that Jalane’s comment speaks volumes -For what it’s worth, your blog has more credibility being separate from MLS.
Date Archives April 2007
Local candidates’ election dollars
Thanks to VPAP, now you can see how much cash local candidates have on hand – and from whom they have received said cash. Albemarle is here, and Charlottesville is here. Ah, transparency!Hat Tip: Bacon’s Rebellion.
Marketing ethics to Virginia Realtors – Take Two
As noted here in February, the Virginia Association of Realtors has started a viral campaign to combat unsavory ethical practices. The Inman story will be subscription only after today.Take the “Tedst.”I’d love to see a question about Dual Agency.
Get ready for higher water bills
In CharlAlbemarle, that is.Customers’ rates may rise more than 20 percent this year given the expense of area water and sewer projects being undertaken by the RWSA.
When given the option to build green, will Buyers take it?
As more local builders such as Barry Meade, Church Hill and Stonehaus build green, the question soon will not be, “is this house green?” It will be, “Why don’t you build green?”Don’t underestimate the power of both the market and shame, as well as Buyers’ focus on resale value. A house regarded as being green today will likely be more valuable when buyers go to sell.Referencing the Belvedere development in Charlottesville -Each of Belvedere’s houses will be Energy Star and Earthcraft certified – recognitions of a home’s energy efficiency and sustainability.Moreover, the development will include an organic farm, a dog park, a village green and amphitheater, grassy parks, a storm water park, a system of biking and hiking trails and the preservation of a flood plain and more than 40 percent of the site’s green space, trees and vegetation…The project also will incorporate wind- and solar-powered multi-family buildings and commercial structures, as well as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings in the project’s civic core.Now, if only they would provide effective public transport …Soon it may be time to change the MLS to reflect the green aspects of building…. Currently, the best way to search for green homes is to search the public remarks for either “Earthcraft” or “Energy Star,” neither of which is wholly effective.Note: I have added this Daily Progress article to to this blog’s Press Page.Update 5/1/2007 – C-Ville has a good article on Belvedere’s green features.Update 5/1/2007 #2 – This is the Belvedere project’s website.
Dual Agency under fire in Virginia?
From the head of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Real Estate Board, Schaefer Oglesby:We are still seeing numerous cases involving dangerous practice of dual agency…. (italics and bolding mine)The newsletter is here (PDF)…. That’s a succinct summation of dual agency.If the head of the Real Estate Board finds dual agency dangerous, why do so many Realtors do it?… Dual agency should be a last resort, a reluctant decision reached only after full disclosure and explanation to all involved parties.Much more on Dual Agency here.
There should be a way to report agents
I tried to show a house on Tuesday, but the lockbox wasn’t there. Neither listing agent has called me back yet. My clients and I have found another house (there’s quite a bit of inventory out there), but shouldn’t there be a way to report the agents to their “clients”? The fact that there is only one picture in the MLS should be a violation in and of itself as well.