DISQUS

What an announcement - and what a way to MAKE an announcement.

'LilZebra, remember this - all roads lead to Virginia Tech. Hokie Hokie Hokie Hi.

My personal feeling on this is that this is a trend we're going to continue to see grow. I'd argue that Zappos, Jet Blue and Southwest are on the forefront of customer service trends, and other companies are going to be sure to follow.




Just my $.02. You're right, a crappy product isn't offset by stellar customer service, but it certainly helps ...

Hey Daniel - how come you don't have a piece of fabric included? Hmmmm ...

I know, I know, you said stay-tuned. I don't like to wait!

Well done, but let's get to the important stuff. Let me know when you want to try out snowboarding. It's a freakin' blast.

I've been called out ... it's in the mail, bud!

Agreed, Gary - in fact, I stopped following @ABC13News for that reason. Well, tat and the fact that I'm not following much news out of Lynchburg.

I like your example of on-site Twittering, that makes a lot of sense AND would likely go a long way to encourage folks who use Twitter to ALSO follow the newscasts from that particular station. I know that I'd watch Natasha Ryan's reports on WDBJ7 with more interest because I'm also connected with her on Twitter. If she were reporting live from the field, that only engages me even more.

As I wrote to Anne Clelland earlier today, in fact - the limits of these kinds of mediums at this point are held at bay only by our imaginations. There are so many ways to use social media in our everyday, professional lives - it's exciting to see all the applications!

This is ... different.

Always looking for new ways to showcase Fluvanna aren't you? Nice job.

Well, at least I know now that breakfast at McD's ends at 10:30 and not 11:00. One of life's greatest mysteries now solved ...

Hey, a shout out from Stuart! I appreciate that!

You're right, we've been doing it for some time here in Blacksburg, and to a small degree in Radford - I wrote about it a few months ago (http://nrvliving.typepad.com/nrvliving/2008/04/...). There really is something to "the connection to youth, fresh beginnings each fall ...", I really honestly believe that - it's what makes college towns such unique centers of thought, art, culture <insert descriptor here>.

I have dozens of folks I work with every year who buy places for their kid to live in while in school, rent out the other rooms to pay the mortgage, and they've seen solid gains when they've gone to sell them. It's probably 20% of our business every year. But the idea that buying a second home in a college town to be close to your child just seems completely off to me, though. College should be four - or five, or six - years of finding yourself, it's a major maturation period for a young person. Financial gains aside, it doesn't seem like this makes solid social sense for your child.

Interested to see what other comments you might see on this one. Just saw Marty's - looks like he and I are drinking the same Kool Aid.

The love has been spread. Game on.

"Joel Burslem on June 9th, 2008 11:10 pm

We thought about changing the Inman branding to black and white for the day in honor of Daniel coming aboard. "

Joel, that would have been awesome.

Congratulations, Daniel - Can I have that autograph now, Mr. Rothamel? :)

Okay, that's freaky weird ...

When I was young, I wanted to be a trash man as well. I'd run around the house in a diaper and a shower cap, with a trash can in my hand, yelling - at the top of my lungs 'cause that's what any kid with ADD should do! - "TRASH MAN"! I thought that hanging off of that big freakin' truck would be the coolest job in the world. Plus, my mom was a teacher and I hated going to school with her ... someone along the line told me that I didn't have to go to school to be a trash man, which just added to the bonus factor.

Tip of my bowler hat to you, Daniel - fellow trash man.

The Contracts we use here in my area of VA have the same wording, "on or before". I've always found it to be too open-ended, but it's how the Contract is worded. In the scenario you put forth, I think the Seller wins.

In my experience with this wording, the Seller would rarely have a case to win. The Contract allows flexibility with the closing date by saying "on or about", and specifically doesn't give a drop date unless written in by the Selling Agent. In this scenario though, the Buyer forfeited the "about" by going on vacation, IMO. Even though the time frame to close was broad, Buyer has every obligation to move the closing through as quickly as possible, so in this case I think Seller wins.

And the winner was ... ?

Thanks, Daniel, for the post. Twitter has become NOT a business stream - any business I've received from it has been a side benefit. The greater "good" has been the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in a number of industries, to interact on a regular basis with some really creative and engaging personalities, and just befriend some really cool people. You're one of those, and I've got a bunch more. Looking forward to hearing what Twitter's doing for others.

Tom - you're exactly right. This is just one of the reasons why the real estate industry - MY industry - has such a negative impression among the public. The old ways of doing business are behind us, and consumers now are looking for relationships. That applies not just to real estate, but just about any industry. Build relationships with your clients and customers, and you'll be miles ahead of your competitors. And you'll make some friends along the way, as well.

Need a honest answer to a very important question ...

Why does a referee where black and white stripes?

Really enjoyed it, Daniel - thanks for the invitation, great job!

Some badge. Floyd County has one ... but you kind of expect it from Floyd, it's an eclectic, artsy kind of enclave. Wouldn't have guessed that from Charlottesville.

I believe! I BELIEVE!

Seriously ... you don't have a single, lonely stop light??

Groundbreaking news! :)

I don't think that, under the current system, separate licenses are needed. To the best of my knowledge, a commercial agent can just as freely go and sell residential as a residential agent can go and sell commercial. The consumer is the one who should decide who they want to work with - I'm not qualified to sell certain commercial properties, not because I don't have the license but because I don't feel I have the expertise to provide to my clients. One of my business partners does, however, so all commercial clients are funneled through him. His background in commercial leasing and management give him a much broader perspective to offer our clients.

It's an issue of "you can't be everything to everyone". Or "do a few things and do them well". Either one works, but the point is that we don't need multiple licenses.

His foot was on the line, ref! You were standing right there! Get some glasses!

Remarkable.

His comments were certainly well-deserved!

Nice job - you are your brand.

I like it, Daniel. I think you're right, one of the biggest appeals about this business is the opportunity to make the real estate investment seamless for people, to facilitate a smooth transition for them. Their home is their refuge, and the process of acquiring it should reflect that sense of peace and satisfaction.

I also love that it's such a cocktail party conversation piece. Everywhere I go, someone seems to want to talk about real estate. Unlike some jobs where you just "want to get away from work", this is a profession where it's actually FUN to talk shop. I might not always like it when they tell me negative things about their last agent, but maybe they'll see something different in me that'll change their minds. You're right - we DO need to change that perception. And I think it's through the efforts you're making, that Jim Duncan is creating, that we're all striving for, that we'll be able to do it.

Nice job.