If you have a business to market… here is a compelling reason to get on Google+ and invite your friends!

I read/watched this blog posting today and was amazed! I tried it myself, had others try it in the office and it actually works. If you stay logged into Google, as I do, if you have individuals in your circles or if they are in yours, it actually influences the search results that you receive!

I know this is overkill and you can read the actual article by clicking on it below, but if you are in my circle(s) or follow my G+ Business Page, and you were to be logged-in to google while searching “Realtor”… as soon as you start typing, my info or any other Realtor’s info that are in your circles come up 1st in your search!! That’s AWESOME! Why? If you have a FB Business Page and there is no interaction with your audience, you will not show up in anyone’s news-feeds and thus you just wasted your time. Read on below for further details… remember, just click anywhere on it to read the full post.

Have a GREAT week! Ryan

Shared this morning… Predictions for the Coming Year

Predictions for the Coming Year

Mardi Gras is in 5 days… Fat Tuesday coming up on the 21st… then St. Patrick’s Day!!! I’m too excited!!

I don’t know what it is about this season that excites me?!  I am always torn between Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day as my 2 personal favorite holidays…

I’ve never been to Mardi Gras… but I love eating King Cake right before Fat Tuesday!  I’m about as good at following the rules to Lent as I am keeping New Years Resolutions, but the idea of it gets me excited!  That coupled with the upcoming holiday of St. Patrick’s Day!!

Once again, I’m not even a little bit Irish, but St. Patrick’s Day in the Quad Cities has always been one of my favorites!!  I LOVE the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and all of the festivities that come with it!!  Click here for more info.

That Saturday morning, I couldn’t wait to get down to 3rd Street to start partying all day!!  Start off the morning with some Bloody Mary’s and party the rest of the day with thousands of other Quad Citians!!

Of course now that I have 3 wonderful children, the partying has calmed WAY down, but the excitement remains the same!  Now I get to enjoy the parade more than what I used too.  I may be half Belgian, half Swedish… but on the 17th, I feel like an honorary Irishman!

What’s your favorite Holiday in the Quad Cities and why?

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!!!  Love your spouse, your significant other, your children… and don’t forget to love yourself!!

Remember – Nothing says love like a new house!  Ha ha ha!!

Have a great day!

Ryan

Your home is worth…. it’s coming to me… wait for it… wait for it…

Ok, I don’t consult a crystal ball… really!!!  But I do have a pretty good method of coming up with a pricing strategy that will sell your home!  Give me a call or an email today, and I can help you with a complimentary CMA!  My number is 563.271.6684 and my email address is ryanvandaele@ruhlhomes.com.  Or, to make it REALLY easy, you can click on the picture and send me a message straight from here!

If you would like me to consult my Magic 8-ball, however, I will do that upon request!

Make it a great week!

Thanks,

Ryan

Still On The Fence?

Got your attention with the above graphic didn’t I?!  It’s ok… it happens! lol!

Still think listing your home to sell in the winter is a bad idea?  Our latest Trendgraphix report came out and here are few points of interest from Ruhl’s General Sales Manager:

Trendgraphix just updated and it shows that our Residential and Condo listings in the QCARA are down another 8.5% from December bring our listing inventory to 1720, its lowest level in the last 6 years and only the second time to dip below 1800 listings since March of 2005.  (1795 in Dec. 2009). 

 

While January always finds less closings than December, compared to January of 2011, pendings were up 23.4% and closings were up 16.5%.  This tells us we are selling and closing more than we did last year at this time, but have 11.4% less listings in inventory.  (Of course I encourage you all to use trendgraphix to review the markets and price ranges you work in most often to see how they are doing.)

 

As before if you have clients that are planning to put their home on the market in the spring, they may want to consider listing them now as we are getting more and more properties with multiple offers on them.  If priced properly now is a terrific time to sell. 

So, to recap from my earlier post:  Less competition in the market + more active buyers = greatest chance to sell!!

Three Ways To Use LinkedIn If You’re NOT Looking For A Job

Three Ways To Use LinkedIn If You’re NOT Looking For A Job.

This is some funny $hit right here!!!

Do Appraisers Use Distressed Properties as Comparables?

Many of our readers ask us if appraisers use distressed properties (short sales and foreclosures) as comparables when doing an appraisal on non-distressed properties. We have posted on this issue on several occasions (examples: here and here). Last month, the

via Do Appraisers Use Distressed Properties as Comparables?.

Where Are Rents Headed?

People are delaying the decision to buy a home because they are not sure where prices are headed. If they buy and prices continue to soften, they feel that they will not have purchased at the optimal moment. They reason

via Where Are Rents Headed?.