Holiday Flying Tips

As we all know, the holidays can provide some of life's greatest joys—But it also can contribute to some great frustrations for weary travelers. I was surfing the AARP website and came across a recently posted list of tips to help make the process go more smoothly.

AARP Members also save on airline travel, car rental, cruises, hotels, vacations, and more. It's all in AARP Member Discounts and Services
“You don’t stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing”. Ben Franklin
Stress is a part of life. You can't avoid it, but you can learn to manage it! REALTOR® gramEpat

It's Easy to be Green: Reuse Holiday Cards

I recently read an article that mentioned that for the last 25 years Saint Jude's Ranch, a non-profit youth home, has operated a holiday card reuse program. The ranch provides counseling and opportunities for troubled youth. The kids operate a business taking used greeting cards, neatly cutting off the front covers, gluing on new back covers, and selling the result. The kids earn money, experience and a sense of purpose.
The St. Jude's program has been such a success, they have millions of cards and may never need any more. But you can help them by buying the cards, and help to close the recycling loop. To help recycle cards, you send either entire cards, or cards with the backs cut off. To save cost, bundle the cards and send via UPS ground or request the "library book rate" at the post office. Address: St. Jude's Card Recycling, 100 St. Jude Street, Post Office Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006. Or perhaps you know of a group in your community who could use the cards for a similar fund raising program. If you want to create your own 'Green projects' for the Holidays, Ruby Glen.com has some great suggestions. It's easy to be GREEN . Have Fun!

REALTOR® gramEpat

"A Safe Work Place is No Accident"

At the Recent Maine Association of Realtors®' Convention in Bar Harbor, PepTalk company owner and motivational speaker, John T. Jenkins offered a program on safety and self defense. He gave an interesting, informative and interactive presentation showing some of the choices that are available during personal self protection situations.

The National Association of Realtors® also recently produced a REALTOR® Safety Week Kit that was packed with powerful tools that you can use to build members’ awareness of potential on-the-job dangers and the proper procedures that can save lives.

This "10 Second Rule " article was part of the kit that was provided.
1 0 - S E C O N D R U L E
Inattention is one of the main reasons people find themselves in dangerous situations.
Take a few precious seconds during the course of your day to assess your surroundings.
Take 2 Seconds when you arrive at your destination.
• Is there any questionable activity in the area?
• Are you parked in a well-lit, visible location?
• Can you be blocked in the driveway by a prospect’s vehicle?
Take 2 Seconds after you step out of your car.
• Are there suspicious people around?
• Do you know exactly where you’re going?
Take 2 Seconds as you walk towards your destination.
• Are people coming and going or is the area unusually quiet?
• Do you observe any obstacles or hiding places in the parking lot or along
the street?
• Is anyone loitering in the area?
Take 2 Seconds at the door.
• Do you have an uneasy feeling as you’re walking in?
• Is someone following you in?
Take 2 Seconds as soon as you enter your destination.
• Does anything seem out of place?
• Is anyone present who shouldn’t be there or who isn’t expected?
10 Seconds TOTAL
Taking in your surroundings lets you spot and avoid danger. Make it a habit. Then
share it with someone else.
(Appeared in “What You Can Do About Safety,” REALTOR® Magazine, September 2000.
Courtesy Night Owl/Vector Security, Landover, MD.) PLEASE....Stay safe! REALTOR® gramEpat

Recycled Carpets

Thinking of starting the new year with new carpets? Don't let a major carpet job go by without asking about recycling. Natural fiber carpets can be composted. Old synthetic carpets have value as recycled materials. Individual consumers generally can't get rid of a carpet, but you can ask installers and renovation companies if they will do it for you.
It's Easy to be Green.
REALTOR® gramEpat

Are you Still Waiting?

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. Irv Kupcine

ARE YOU STILL WAITING ? "If only I'd invested then!"- from Farm and Land Realtor Magazine, October, 1917 REALTOR® gramEpat

Family Traditions

REALTOR® Family Photo....The National Association's first Board of Directors, 1909.

Where are the women in this family? I'm going to have to search the 'family tree' to find out when women began to appear in Association photos. "Stay tuned"

My Realtor Family was founded as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges on May 12, 1908 at the YMCA Auditorium in Chicago, IL. In 1981 there were three earlier unsuccessful attempts at organizing a national real estate group. With 120 founding members, 19 Boards, and one State Association, the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges' objective was "to unite the real estate men of America for the purpose of effectively exerting a combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests." The Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913 with the Golden Rule as its theme.

As in all families, the dynamics change , but traditions continue to be passed down through the generations. NAR started out as a group of 120 men...and now has over a million men and women. And for generations to come, we will continue to pass on the NAR code of ethics tradition: "Treat Others, as You Would Like to be Treated"! To my REALTOR® Family ( men and women! ) : "Best Wishes for the Holidays" . REALTOR® gramEpat

*BFF* Gift, Google Search

What can I type in for a 'Google search' (BFF GIFT?) that could produce a gift that would show how much a new friendship means? How is it possible to find the right holiday present when "The best gift life can offer is meeting folks like you." ? What a wonderful delimma....Too many new friends and no search results that can begin to show how much I care! REALTOR® gramEpat

Turkey 'Soup for the Soul'

For those of you who also had the misfortune to sit near someone with Bronchitis on the return flight from the NAR convention in Vegas, I hope you find these tips helpful. I can only assume that turkey soup must also be 'good for the soul'..or at least, ...'Good for the cold'.

Most colds are '3 days coming, 3 days here, and 3 days going. Hang in there...you only have about 4 more days to go. (GramE's recipe...Forget the chicken. Use up the Thanksgiving Turkey leftovers...ad plenty of garlic...let it simmer on the stove...make yourself sip on it off and on..and pretend it is working!) Best wishes for a speedy recovery! REALTOR® gramEpat

“I’m Supa’, I’m Upright and I’m Movin’ Forward”

I met an old ‘Mainer’ friend..(in this area, he would be called a ‘local’) at our village Post Office this AM. I said my usual “Good morning. What a nice day! How are you today?” His response (which is his daily response) was “It's a Supa'(super) Day! I’m upright!....and I’m movin’ forward !
He always ‘makes my day’. His attitude helps remind me to have a positive attitude. Applying that to today’s real estate market, I am reminded that we need to stay upright and move forward. If we make an effort to master technology, and learn to integrate new channels of communication into our businesses we will be able to keep up with the needs of our clients…young and ‘older’.
Taking the long-term perspective, we will notice that (according to NAR economists John Tucillo and Lawrence Yun) “The demographics of home buying and selling are shifting significantly, away from baby boomers and toward Generations X and Y.” “Baby boomers are still fueling demand for second homes in communities across the country. However, younger generations are emerging as market forces, and their influence will change how real estate practitioners do business.”
To keep up with the needs of the Generations X and Y younger consumer, we are going to need to pay attention to their perception of value…which includes: time, stress, convenience and service.
If we continue to remain educated, ‘stay upright, and keep moving forward’ we will be able to meet the needs of our younger clients.
Have fun taking the “Supa” classes that are offered in your area. (Maine REALTORS® …I look forward to seeing you at the Portland Educational Extravaganza in December!)

What a Wonderful World

I was looking at this photo of my husband and grandson and wondered what the world will be like when it is the little guy's dream to settle down and raise a family.

It is comforting to know that “Under all is the Land’ and that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is the dream of home ownership.It is fundamental to today’s maintenance of a healthy and democratic society and for future generations. No organization has driven that message home as powerfully as the National Association of REALTORS®

In May 2008, NAR is celebrating 100 years of advocacy on behalf of the real estate professionals and property owners in this country.
This centennial celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the 100 years of innovation in the marketing of real estate, 100 years of setting and promoting professional standards, and 100 years of bringing home the American Dream to more people. I am proud to be a member of this organization that is the Voice for Real Estate and the hope for future generations.
“What a Wonderful World!” REALTOR ® GramEpat

"Like a Bridge over Troubled Waters"

Historic Somesville Bridge, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor Area, Mt.Desert Island. Maine

Don't be discouraged by the recent news media coverage of the housing market. A recent NAR survey shows that Americans still believe that buying a home is a good financial decision.
(Nov. 14) NAR's 2007 National Housing Pulse Survey shows Americans are more concerned about obtaining a mortgage but remain convinced that buying a home is a good long-term investment.
Let your REALTOR® 'ease your mind' and help you obtain the American dream of Home Ownership!
REALTOR® gramEpat

4 PM and Nowhere to Be

I love those days.. when it’s 4 PM and you realize everyone’s still in their jammies. Sometimes, it’s just so nice to have nowhere to be.

I hope all the 30,000 REALTORS® and Associates enjoyed the recent NAR convention in Vegas as much as I did!

REALTOR® gramEpat

"Sleep like a Baby"

The NAR convention in Vegas is over! I plan to 'sleep like a baby tonight'.

I hope that doesn't mean that I will "wake up every 2 hours and cry" !

Coach Lou Holtz made that humorous statement at a convention program that I attended a few days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed Lou's stories and his charisma. To quote Lou: "It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test".

"Pleasant Dreams" REALTOR® gramEpat

How Sweet it is to be Loved by You!

Tonight at the NAR Vegas Convention, singer and song writer James Taylor knew 'How sweet it is to be loved by you" as REALTORS® and their guests applauded his incredible performance. The concert was just one of the many events that have made this convention so spectacular. For those of you who could not join the other 30,000 attendees, we hope to see you at the 2008 convention in Orlando!


According toWikipedia,James Vernon Taylor is an American singer songwriter and guitarist born in Belont, Mass. His career began in the mid-1960s, but he found his audience in the early 1970s, singing sensitive and gentle acoustic songs.

"Sweet Baby James",....."You've got a Friend" , Realtor® gramEpat

"These Boots were made for Walking"

I have to assume that Nancy Sinatra was not a REALTOR® attending a convention in Vegas!

There are limitless meetings...limitless friends...and limitless opportunities to have a great time...but it also seems like there are limitless casinos and hallways to walk thru to get from 'here to there'. It seems frivolous, but the thing that is foremost on my mind this AM is my choice of footwear for the day! Should I wear the gramE pumps...and take the 'big girl' shoes in my bag? (in case I think I need to make a fashion statement :) ...or do I start out optimistic that I can get thru the day with heels...and pack the granny shoes....One thing I know for sure....

"These Boots were NOT made for walking...."

30,000+ Birds of a Feather Flock together

Vegas NAR Convention amusing quote of the day: At the National Association of REALTORS® President's breakfast this AM , outgoing NAR president, Pat V. Combs quoted former NAR president Richard Mendenhall when she reminded the leadership team that :“Today’s Peacock is Tomorrow’s Feather Duster”. I got a kick out of that visual!

I hope the 'big birds', who volunteer their time, realize how effective their leadership is and how much the feathered flock appreciates them!

REALTOR®gramepat

Fragile Earth

I am attending the NAR convention in Las Vegas this week. Great meetings...limitless business growth and limitless fun!. As a member of the 2nd Home Resort Committee, I attended the annual committee meeting today and listened to the other members talk about resort areas around the country. In most areas, this niche market is still 'alive and well'. However, when new developments are being planned it makes me wonder, ' How can we best promote economic development without spoiling the region's natural beauty?'
In the Northern Maine woods, Plum Creek Timber Company has asked LURC, which serves as the planning and appeals boards for the territory, to rezone 20,000 acres of land it owns to create, over time, 975 house lots in selected locations near Moosehead Lake. This Seattle based company has also proposed to set aside land for the private development of a resort in Lily Bay and another resort at Squaw Mountain. It is the largest development plan ever proposed in Maine.
The latest plan also includes a company proposal to permanently protect more than 400,000 acres of forestland in the region through a combination of easements and land sales to conservation groups
This plan is very significant. It will not only decide the fate of more than 400,000 acres of wild lands around Moosehead Lake, but it also will set a precedent for Maine Land Use Regulation Commission decisions yet to come.
Members of the Land Use Regulation Commission voted to hold four public hearings on Plum Creek Timber Co.'s plan during the first three weeks of December.
Beginning December 3rd, the commission will hold two weeks of work sessions with officially recognized intervenors and interested parties on the application

FYI: Maine Public hearings are currently scheduled for:
. Saturday, Dec. 1, in Greenville.
. Sunday, Dec. 2, in Augusta.
. Saturday, Dec. 15, in Portland.
. Sunday, Dec. 16, in Greenville.
Fragile Earth...a balance of economic development and natural beauty!
REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

Have You Lost Your Memory ?

What good is a memory stick if you can’t remember where you put it?
GramEgram:If you have an important document that you want to transport from one computer to another, or want to make sure you have it with you when you travel… and you cannot find the flash memory card…because you ‘lost your memory’, …why not , in addition to saving it on your memory stick, also email the document to yourself at your Google account so that you can retrieve it anywhere……or, you could also choose to upload it as a Google document , retrieve it later, or even share it online when necessary. Memory sticks are great for portable storage. Just remember where you keep it. And, if all else fails, if you can't find it ANYWHERE..look for it in the slot in the computer where you used it last. (Been there, Done that !)
REALTOR® gramEpat

Technorati Tag Real Estate

Going to Vegas

Casino Gambling guide and Vegas tips: Here are a few of the quoted comments:

"Vegas is a lot more fun when you know what you're doing at the tables. It not only makes the games more enjoyable but it gives you a fighting chance against "the house". The best surprise of all is that it doesn't take a lot of time or effort learn how to do it right. The information below will show you the right ways to play craps and blackjack according to widely-held strategies, plus a little roulette routine that I like to play which allows me to enjoy the game without risking a big chunk of my bank-roll. There's also a page with tips and techniques that may be helpful if you do want to try your luck at a slot machine.
Easy-to-follow explanation of how to play craps according to widely-held strategies. (It's the BEST casino game and a lot easier than you think!). If you've read the explanation or you're familiar with craps, you may find this summary page helpful.
A little something to try at the roulette table.
A beginner's guide to playing casino poker.
How to play blackjack with information specific to the "multi-deck" and "double-deck" games played in the casinos, as well as how to use the flash-cards below.
Three color-coded flash-cards showing how to play all hands at blackjack according to the widely-accepted "basic strategy". I created two versions of these cards. The easy version is not quite as comprehensive but there is less to remember. It is perfectly fine for the recreational gambler. For those who want every advantage they can get, the complete version is more comprehensive, with all hands conforming to the "basic strategy" for multi-deck games (which are the most common in Las Vegas casinos)."
GramEpat will see you at the Black Jack Table ! (I'll bring some Irish luck with me)

"What Happens in Vegas.........."

REALTORS®: Planning to attend the NAR convention next week?
One attendee from Maine was recently quoted : "What happens in Vegas - hopefully happens twice in Vegas."
There are some good travel tips posted on the Travel Assistant Web site.
The Screening Experience
Dress the Part
What You Need
Do I Have to Remove My Shoes?
Keep Your Experience Simple
Travel Tips to Make Your Screening Experience Hassle-Free
Know What to Expect
Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.
Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.
Have a safe trip and a ‘wicked good time’ in Vegas! See you soon!
REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

"X" Windex on Granite Counter tops

At a broker open house this morning in Bar Harbor, Maine, the listing agent was cleaning up the counter top (after serving us breakfast) and said "Did you know that you should not use Windex on granite counter tops?" I had NO idea that ammonia products would damage the surface! By the way, Connie, your Cranberry sausage breakfast souffle that you served this AM was Delicious! No wonder agents love to attend your open houses!!

What is the best way to clean marble and other stones?According to a posting on marble.com

"The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn't use on your hands. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone, and might damage your stone counter tops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners such as Windex. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone".

Thanks, Connie. You are 'wicked smart'!
REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

Aquatic Invasive Plants

I was having a discussion with another Maine REALTOR® today about the damaging effects of the invasive plant, Milfoil. I wondered what I could do to help protect our lakes and streams from this invader. To find out more information, I did a Google search and came across many interesting articles. One that I thought was especially helpful was the article "Preserve Maine Waters" Stickers.

Efforts to prevent, detect and manage aquatic invasive plants are made possible by boater participation in the Maine Lake and River Protection Sticker program.
I found out that, beginning in 2002, in Maine there was a new sticker requirement for all motorized watercraft on inland waters . They must display the Lake and River Protection Sticker ("Preserve Maine Waters").
No sticker is required for operating a boat in tidal waters. The Warden Service determines the boundary between inland and tidal waters on tidal rivers. The definition of "Motorized watercraft" includes any boat with any type of motor, including canoes with electric motors and personal watercraft.
How much? The Maine Resident sticker costs $10. The Nonresident sticker costs $20. The cost depends on the residency of the boat, not the boater! Out-of-state residents who register their boat in Maine pay the "Resident" sticker fee. Where to get it?: Stickers are available for sale wherever boats are registered or fishing licenses are sold. Where to put it? Stickers are to be placed next to your registration sticker. These stickers may also be purchased on-line through the IF&W on-line store. (off-site) .

It's a small price to pay, and very little effort, to help protect our Maine lakes and rivers. Please spread the word...not the plant.

REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

"Green Sinkers" for Maine Ice Fishermen?

Attention: Maine Ice Fishermen: Need ‘Green’ Sinkers?

At a recent REALTOR® meeting, an agent, concerned about the environment, asked the question: “What can we do with our old lock boxes when we replace them?
I assumed they could be recycled and thought it would be easy to do a web search for details. I Googled and Googled and Googled again and was unable to find any clever green ways to dispose of them, other than the other ‘green’ ,$$$$$$, selling them online.
Selling them is not a bad idea, (if the buyer pays for shipping), but…what if they simply are not usable?
When I was a little girl, and lived near the Jersey shore, I used to go ‘crabbing’ with my Dad. We tied weights (sinkers) to the baited rope lines. I wonder if Maine Ice Fishermen would have any use for the lock box weights? I'm just fishing for ideas! I’m not going to give up my search. There must be a clever green ‘re-purpose’ for them. (PS: Obviously I know nothing about Ice Fishing in Maine!)

Although I did not find the information I wanted about lock box recycling, I did find an interesting article on the Bootstrapper web page:
Working Green: 50 Tips To Reduce Your Office’s Waste

REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

I See What You're Saying.

Perhaps the hardest thing for many people to learn is the art of listening . Hopefully by knowing how to ask the right questions, and observing body language, our listening skills will improve and we will be able to serve our customers better.
GramEgram:At my office, I decided to create my own 'Art of Listening 'ABC's' . I keep a basket of miniature building blocks with letters on them on the coffee table by the seating arrangement. When I chat with customers, quite often one of the people will ‘fiddle’ with the blocks. That person usually has their head down and is preoccupied with sorting and arranging the little blocks…while the other person appears more attentive. It is easy to conclude that the person preoccupied with the blocks might need a little extra TLC to make them feel more comfortable. Amusing observation: Some people will line up all the blocks, either letter side down or visa versa. Others will attempt to use the letters to spell words…and some ambitious types (engineers?) will attempt to build something with them ! Kids who accompany their parents (and are obviously bored) get a kick out of creatively spelling words like 'For Sale','Cheap','Buy Now'..or 'DON'T DO IT'...and other humorous comments.

If you plan to ask the right questions and want to listen attentively, why not try to first establish a comfortable environment. Combining the right questions with skillful listening will enable you to understand your customers better.
Well-known trainer and speaker Dr. Tony Alessandra of La Jolla, California, shares these tips on improving your listening skills.
Tips for Better Listening
*Do you make eye contact with the speaker?
*Do you use physical or verbal cues to show you're listening?
*Do you ask clarification questions?
*Do you give the speaker your undivided attention?
*Do you avoid interrupting or contradicting?
*Can you tolerate brief moments of silence?
*Can you restate what has been said to you?

*Listen for psychological needs. Watch for subtle clues that indicate needs such as security, excitement, or acceptance.
*Listen for the main theme. Analyze how specific facts that the speaker states support, or do not support, what the speaker is getting at.
*Be sensitive to your own emotional biases. Don't stop listening if the speaker says something that you disagree with or that offends you.
*Take notes. Keep them brief, but don't count on your memory alone.
*Create a relaxed, uninterrupted atmosphere. Then, let the speaker tell the whole story before you jump in. *Avoid distractions that keep you from focusing on the speaker. Adapted from "Listening Your Way to More Sales" by Janice Alessandra and Dr. Anthony Alessandra, Washington Area REALTOR®, August 1988.
Resource: Realtor Magazine Online REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

Bean Suppers.Wicked Good Maine Tradition

Last Saturday night, on our little Maine Island, there were 3 different bean suppers being held to raise money for the community.
Which event to attend and where to go might have been a bit confusing to the general public. The Fireman’s sign for their fundraiser event was on the lawn of the Firehouse, where the Church Supper was being held. Another sign was on the Church lawn where the Fireman’s Supper was to take place, and I’m not too sure where the 3rd event was being held, but I know it was not at the Church or the Firehouse.
If Maine humorous Tim Sample had been in our village on Saturday afternoon he might have described me as ‘numb as a hake’. I was in such a rush to get my bread donations delivered (everyone brings something to the event)…that I quickly went to the Firehouse , dropped off the bags of bread, mentioned how great the beans smelled, and asked if I could be of any help. I also mentioned that I would return ASAP with the place mats and some artwork for the kids. The woman thanked me for the bread and, just as I was going out the door, also thanked me for being so generous. She questioned if I really wanted to leave the bread and return with the artwork..…since I was not even a member of their Church! Good thing it’s a small community. She knew that my husband was a volunteer fireman and that I was probably at the wrong location.

When I arrived at the Church building (where the Fireman's dinner was being held) , and saw the unbelievable number and variety of pies, I could not help but wonder how many Church members dropped off their desserts at the Fireman’s event ? Bean suppers may be the tradition…but the PIES play a very important roll in keeping the tradition alive and well!

“Those beans and pies were ‘some good’ . And we all had a ‘wicked good’ time! “

Saturday Night 'Bean Suppers' is a Maine tradition that you have to experience so that you can say: “Bean There, Done That” ! Click here to read a great ‘from away’ article written my Colleen Stone for travel.mainetoday.com REALTOR®GramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

Email Embarrassment

Ever send an email and then think…..OOPS?? (Been there, Done that!)….Reply via email to friends, inviting them to dinner and not realizing that you clicked the ‘reply to all’ button instead of reply? …(and to top it off, there were blind copy addresses in the Bcc reply section?) I better roast a HUGE bird for Turkey Day! I have no idea how many guests are coming !
Trainers tips: avoid email embarrassment
Email Embarrassment by Matthew Ferrara
REALTOR ® GramEpat

Repurpose Products. Think Green!

GramEgram: If you are planning to attend the NAR REALTOR® convention in Las Vegas this month, and you are visiting the exhibits, keep in mind that the exhibit bags that are given out make great reusable shopping bags! FYI: Americans use 100 BILLION disposable plastic bags every year yet recycle less than 1%. Make a difference. “Think Green”.

REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate

Think that Blogging is a Vast Project?

"Even if you think you are on the right track, if you just sit there, you'll get run over!"

To quote technology consultant, Matthew Ferrara : “Web site logs – or blogs as they have become known – are the next big thing for agent Internet marketing"…In a recent article , he advises REALTORS® to not stay stuck in the 80’s. “The technology behind blogs – mostly typing into a box, attaching a file and pressing post – is within the grasp of almost every agent, even the dedicated technophobe”. He sums up the article by saying “Like a warp-speed correspondence with potentially a large number of pen-pals, your blog will become a hub of your online social networking activities” .
Here's a tip from GramEpat: Don't start 'Vast Projects with Half Vast Ideas’,. There are many web sites that offer ‘tips and tricks'. Why not get off the track, start blogging and have some fun along the way!

101 Blog Tips from Daily Blog Tips
Design Mistakes
More Mistakes Not to Make

REALTOR® gramEpat Technorati Tag Real Estate