Image by @Doug88888 via Flickr

There is always something to do in Central Massachusetts.

The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley always has a calendar of performances on its site. Among some of the highlights coming up are The Roomful of Blues Dance Party,  Rusted Root,  and Rust Never Sleeps:

02-18-2012

RUST NEVER SLEEPS is a unique, live rock show that celebrates the music, and musical career of Neil Young.
Capturing the spirit, the sound, and the feel of what can best be described as a “dream come true” concert experience; you will hear selections from The Buffalo Springfield as well as Young’s early 70′s folk-rock gems.
You will savor the sweet harmonies of Crosby, Stills, and Nash as well as the raging guitar duels between Stills and Young.
You will feel the high voltage snap of Crazy Horse as well as the plaintive beauty of “Heart of Gold”.
Based in the Greater Boston area, Rust Never Sleeps pays “tribute” to Neil Young and his music the best way they know how… with integrity.
While some groups in the tribute-band genre are content with a note for note replication of the original recordings, a Rust Never Sleeps show is infused with the passion and truth that comes from musicians using their own unique, creative energy to present these great songs.

More info: www.rustneversleeps.net/

For a list of Bull Run Restaurant events click here.

It is funny how you can live near to a place, yet be totally unaware of its existence. That was me and Main Streets Market and Cafe. Good food, great desserts (I could live on desserts alone), and music as a bonus! Fun and comfortable place. Check out their schedule of musical events here.  They even have open mike nights- heaven help us.

Another Main Street place, The Main Street Cafe in Groton, sponsors Acoustic Cafe with a variety of different performers and jazz on the first Friday of the month. Check out Main Street Cafe’s calendar here.

Do you have any favorite places to hang out and listen to music?

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Homebuyers in Massachusetts  hear a lot about FHA and low down payment loans, but one mortgage program that is sometimes overlooked is the USDA loan. This is available for our rural areas, so Leominster and Fitchburg  properties will not qualify for this program. If you have a home in mind, you can check out the zip code here to see if your property qualifies.

There are income eligibility guidelines too. You can do a preliminary check to see if you qualify here.

It is important to locate a loan officer who has experience with this type of loan. I would be happy to help you to find someone who can help you. Brian Hunton, with whom I have worked before, set me up a simplified comparison sheet for a listing in our office (my home!). Please keep in mind that your numbers will be different, depending upon the property and current rates – this worksheet is for illustration purposes only.

Comparison chart:

311 Great Rd., Shirley MA 01464

Related articles

• Is another refinance plan on its way? (hsh.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Come take a look at this house and see if it is the home for you!

Open house this Saturday January 14 from 2:00- 3:30 – come on out and take a look!!

Call me or email me to send you the spec sheet to preview.

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Excitement and changes! We will now be working as part of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Leominster. This is awesome news, as we will be using the tools of a national company, while at the same time retaining our service and marketing, which goes above and beyond the standard.

Call me if you have any questions!

from the press release:

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the largest residential real estate brokerage firm in New England, announced that Towne & Country, Realtors in Leominster MA has joined the company. The sales associates of the single-office residential real estate company, led by Gerry Bourgeois, will now operate under the banner of Coldwell Baker Residential Brokerage, serving Leominster and the surrounding communities in Northern Worcester County.

Bourgeois, broker owner of Towne & Country, Realtors, will join the Coldwell banker Residential Brokerage office at 4 Monument Square in Leominster in a sales capacity. The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Leominster office will continue to be managed by Fran Hendershaw…

“I chose to join Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage because it is an industry leader and together we are well-positioned to provide exceptional service to homebuyers and sellers throughout Northern Worcester County,” said Bourgeois…

Our new office: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 4 Monument Square, Leominster MA. Office number 978-840-4014.

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image by Christopher S. Penn via Flickr

Trying to think of some cheap ways to keep the kiddos busy during Winter Break? Going to the library is always fun in and of itself, but most local libraries also offer passes for free or discounted admission to museums in the area and other places of interest.

Shirley Public Library (Hazen Memorial)

offers the following passes:

Boston Children’s Museum (617) 426-6500
Tues, Thurs or Saturday, 4 Admissions @ $6.00 per person, 0-12 mos. free. Maximum 4 people allowed. $1.00 Fridays from 5-9 pm.

Davis Farmland (978) 422-6666
6 Admissions @ $14.95 Per Admission
Maximum 6 people at discounted price. Card valid once per weekday at Davis’ Farmland or Davis’ Mega Maze (Mega Maze in August only). Card NOT VALID on weekends or Monday holidays. Open 7 days April 17 – Labor Day, then Thursday – Sunday until October 12, weather permitting.

Fruitlands (978) 456-3924
2 Adults with 2 Children OR 1 Adult with 3 Children Free. Good for the Fruitlands Museum during the season and access to the grounds and trails year round. Cannot be used for Museum Store, Tea Room, Concord Band or Special Events.

Ecotarium (508) 929-2700
2 Adults ($6 each) and 2 Children OR Seniors ($4 each) in One Vehicle. Max. 2 children/seniors
Passes good for one visit. Pass does not include admission to the Explorer Express Train, Planetarium, Tree Canopy Walk or discounts on special Ecotarium Programs.

Museum of Fine Arts (617) 267-9300
2 Admissions @ $7.00 Per Admission Each pass allows GENERAL MFA ADMISSION for up to 2 people. Children ages 7-17 admitted FREE on weekdays after 3pm, weekends and public school holidays. Pass entitles each visitor to upgrade to a special exhibition ticket for an additional $8.00 (total $15), same day only, subject to availability. Coupons DO NOT allow for any discounts for: MFA SHOP/CATALOGUE, PARKING, DINING, FILMS, CONCERTS or LECTURES/SEMINARS. Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

Boston Museum of Science (617) 589-0100 4 Admissions @ $5.00 Per Admission One pass available each day of the year. Present coupon at the Box Office (non-member/red) for admission of $5 per person at the Exhibit Halls. Limit 4 people/coupon. Not valid towards purchase of Omni, Planetarium, or Combo tickets.

Mystic Aquarium (860) 572-5955 2 Adults @ $20.00 per Adult and 2 Children @ $15.00 per Child Two passes available each day. Present coupon for discounted admission. Limit 4 people/coupon. Pass cannot be used for special events and programs.

New England Aquarium (617) 973-5200
4 Admissions @ $10.00 Per Admission. One pass available each day up to June 30, 2012. Not good towards discounts on parking, at the IMAX theatre, cafe or gift shop, and cannot be applied toward Whale Watch or Harbor Tour tickets.

Wheelock Family Theater (617) 879-2300 Call the Library for Availability / buy one get one free Fri. night performances.
Make reservations in advance: box office: 617-879-2300 or tickets@wheelock.edu Tickets held at box office.

MA State Parks Pass
Free Parking for 1 Car Load at Most MA State Parks- 2 passes avail.
Free parking at over 50 facilities in the MA state parks system that charge a day use parking fee. Maps of Park system available at library or www.massparks.org.

USS Constitution Museum
(617) 426-1812, 2 passes available.Free admission for parties up to 9 people.

Fitchburg Public Library:

Children’s Museum, Boston
Pass admits 4 for half-price.

Davis Farmland, Sterling
We are not subscribing to this pass this year due to cost to library and small savings to patrons.

Discovery Museums, Acton
Admits 3 for half price

EcoTarium, Worcester
Admits 2 adults and 2 children per vehicle for half price

Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg
Admits a family free

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Admits 2 adults for $7 each

Museum of Science, Boston
Admits 4 for $5 each

New England Aquarium, Boston
Admits 4 for $10 each – Not available in July/August

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston
Admits a family for free. NEW!!

Related articles

• Starchitecture: The Lighting of Norman Foster’s Boston Museum of Fine Arts (curbed.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

My broker, Gerry “RealtyMan” Bourgeois, is listing this for me. Call the office at 978-537-6401 for more information.

Specs: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2.6 acres, 2 bonus rooms in basement. 3 bedroom septic. $250,000.

Added the basement room pictures…

Towne & Country, Realtors, 124 N Main St., Leominster MA 01453

Related articles

• Joyce’s Voice…Don’t just sit on the fence, now is the time to buy real estate! (joycerealtor.wordpress.com)
• Real estate brokers plug in to social media (boston.com)
• Wall Street Journal, TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE (kingdavidnyrealestate.wordpress.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

We chose NCCES because I wanted a more relaxed environment for her. Parker Charter was closer to us but she didn’t make the lottery to get in. NCCES was our other choice.

To say that we are happy with the supportive environment would be an understatement. Jenni bounces out of the car every morning so happy to be heading off to school. The following video culled from a slideshow presentation that was given at the school underscores the wonderful job they are doing there:

If you have any questions, check out the NCCES website here.

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

My open house – multifamily Leominster MA! Sunday October 9 open from 1:00-3:00

Can’t make it? Call me at 978-537-6401.

Two family on the West side – 5/5 on each level. Beautiful 2 family recently updated- and looks like new! Updated kitchens and baths. Recently redone inside. 2 new gas furnaces to be installed prior to closing. A quick close possible. On Dead End St. Separate utilities. Ready to rent!  $194,900.00

16 Walnut Ct., Leominster MA

Check out one of the kitchens:

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

This whole attitude shifted when my kids entered school. Halloween was suddenly really important, to the point of a parade at the school and a huge party afterwards. There were prizes for the best costume, and rivalry was a little heated. One year Meg won for her Johnny Appleseed costume, one year Rebecca won for a Statue of Liberty costume (these were all hand-made, by the way) and one year Peter won for his costume “Boy Inside a Shower” made with a clear shower curtain, a hula hoop, a pipe, and I forget what else.

Anyway, I guess the point is that the holiday is important, and has gained importance to me over the years.

Locally, my kids have gone to the Shirley Halloween Parade as well as trick-or-treated around town.

I will post local Halloween times as they come in, but yesterday I came across an adult Halloween event: Halloween Zombie Apocalypse – here is the Meetup site for Shirley. I read it and thought – whoa, three days? Here is their disclaimer: “We are not liable for any injury, illness, damage, mayhem, chaos, disaster, insanity or an “actual” outbreak of zombies brought about from this event.”

Wish I could carve out three days! Here is the link to the official Zombie Apocalypse site.

Other things to do at Halloween:

Witch’s Woods, Westford

Salem MA Haunted Happenings

SpookyWorld

What places do you go to for Halloween fun? Add them to the comments.

Related articles

• Healthy Halloween Costumes (fitsugar.com)
• Halloween Costumes (coachmac4.wordpress.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image via Wikipedia

My kids grew up a stone’s throw from Holdenwood.  We had a house on Parker Road and used to go for walks through this area. What a great spot for a run!

A fundraiser in a beautiful area – what more can you want?

from the Facebook Page:

Annual fundraiser to support the Ayer-Shirley Educational Foundation.
The Holdenwood Trail Run/Walk is truly unique for its beautiful setting and sense of community. The idyllic Holdenwood trails offer a mix of stone lined meadows, wooded trails, and several interesting features along the way including the Stone Crossing that make this event unique.

Related articles

• 6 Trail Running Tips For Getting Started (fitsugar.com)
• Another Reason to Trail Run: Increased Calorie Burn (fitsugar.com)
• Get Your Run On: Two Trail Tips (fitsugar.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

There I am, sandwiched between Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Honestly? I have no idea what that means, except it’s funny :)

Check me out here if you want to follow me on twitter!

Related articles

• See Kim Kardashian’s Whole Wedding Album – Never Before Seen Pictures! (popsugar.com)
• And Madonna Was All Like: “What’s a Lady Gaga, Anyway?” (fresh1027.radio.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image by scazon via Flickr

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

-Hunter S. Thompson

I have always hated the term Bucket List. It just sounds so unexciting. Even when I was little and picked blueberries, I always put them into a pail, not a bucket, so I sure wouldn’t put a dream or a wish into one.

So, anyway, inspired by Mr. Thompson, I think that Skid List is a better term for that list of things I want to do before I die.

So – here goes. My List of Ten Places I Want to Go and Things I Want To Do:

Burning Man – the event, not the action

Florence, Italy – particularly want to see some of Bernini’s work. (aside: I did a paper on The Ecstasy of St. Teresa a long time ago :). Very interesting saint.)

Bus across America - I don’t care where. I have not seen enough of it!

Go back to Kings Falls NY and see if I am brave enough to jump off the cliff into the water again, like when I was 18. (Yes, I really did.  Would I do it again?)

Hang Gliding  just because

See New Orleans. This part of the post would have been longer except I got distracted watching Big Easy video clips.

Take a steamboat ride on the Mississippi River.

Go to the Big E. 

Whale watch! I have never been!

well, except for this one...

Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum

I guess it is not too crazy a list. I have no great desire to, say, conquer Everest. I kind of feel like there is so much conquering going on on a day-to-day basis that extreme challenges like that hold no real excitement for me. I just want to see new things, beautiful things… even the hang gliding idea is less to do something daring and more to experience more of the world, from a different point of view.

What’s on your Skid List?

Oh, and if we have time later on we could always go catfish noodling: 

 

Related articles

• These Daredevil Bridge Climbers Are Out of Their Bloody Minds [Video] (gizmodo.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

I am getting the house cleaned out so I can put it on the market. Jenni goes to school in another town and it would be closer (and cheaper) to live in that town, and maybe she could even take the bus.

So I have bags and bags of stuff that needs to be thrown out. To me, it seems amazing the amount of things we have. As soon as I can find out what week out of the next few is good for everyone, I am getting a dumpster.

As I was sorting the books into “Keep” piles and “Donate” piles, I came across an old road atlas. For those that are not familiar with these, they are like GPS devices in book format. This particular atlas, together with Mapquest printouts, was our guide for when we took our driving trip from Massachusetts to Windsor Falls, Canada.

The trip was a real departure for me. I seldom drove more than 25 miles at a time and was usually a nervous driver. At that time in my life, I wouldn’t drive in Boston because I was too scared. But the kids had met and really hit it off with some cousins that lived over the Michigan border in Canada, so I decided it would be nice for them all to hang out some more. They were constantly in touch by IM and were very excited about the prospect.

We drove and played games for the entire trip, and spent a lot of time at Niagara Falls (Little Vegas), which the kids loved. It was a fantastic trip. We saw a bald eagle, and got soaking wet on the Maid of the Mist.

So the atlas. When we were looking through it we noticed State mottos. Some of them are really different and unusual, and so we started seeing which state motto would apply to each family member. When I leafed through the atlas I saw that Rebecca had written them down:

• Alabama – Kids – “We Dare Defend Our Rights”
• Kentucky – Kids & Parents – “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
• Idaho – Mom – “It is Perpetual” (she added: “referring to us and the long long long road trip”)
• West Virginia – Dad – “Mountaineers Are Always Free” (he used to like mountain climbing and had wanted to do the entire Appalachian Trail at one point)
• Oregon – Meg – “She Flies With Her Own Wings”
• Maine – Rebecca (who was writing this down) – “I Direct”
• Washington – Peter – “By and By”
• Virginia – Jenni – “Thus Always To Tyrants”

Okay, they were a little harsh with Jenni.  But overall the trip was great, except for the one time that Becca stated firmly that if you checked out a hotel ahead of time that ruined the adventure. We decided after that night that there is such a thing as too much adventure :) .

Things I have learned -

1. Check out the hotel before you go there.

2. Any more than one day spent visiting attractions in Niagara Falls geared towards children is time you can never ever get back.

3. When a child says to Border Patrol, “This is not my father. I don’t know this man,” they take it seriously. (true story- happened with this cousin we were visiting and his father)

4. It is silly to be afraid in anticipation of anything.

5. I get too distracted when I clean house. But I am keeping this Road Atlas.

L to R: The Director, The Tyrant, and Destination Peter

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image by thinkpanama via Flickr

Down and back!  I know how to do it now – I know the train, bus and subway route in to the airport :)

Related articles

• Google +1 Button Adds Snippet and Sharing Features (searchenginejournal.com)
• AboutHom.es video – Inspiration and Perspiration (heyamaretto.com)
• Sell Your House Quickly (activerain.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

On returning home from my trip to Florida to attend and present at REBCORL and the Florida Realtors Convention, I had some time to think. Meetings like this are always chock-full of energy and ideas. Inspiration!

I was talking with Debbie Kirkland who was a key organizer of the events, and one thing that she said struck me hard. It is one thing to hear and agree with the information shared, but if you don’t actually act on it, your business will not grow because of it. And this is true no matter what you do for a living. You may have the best local real estate advice or know the most about an area but if you have no way to share how valuable is the information? If you create the best artwork, if no one knows about it you are not bringing beauty to the world.

I really think that the information that you get at these events is wonderful, but without the inspiration to ACT, the information is not worth as much. If you heard 10 great ideas at the event that just happened, go home and make a list of three things you are going to do. Now to find a way to accomplish that!

Say you decide to blog. Go to Weebly or WordPress and set up your account. What if you get stuck? Either contact someone through the Facebook page for REBarcamp Orlando or tweet your question using the #REBCORL hashtag.

Once you are set up, you will not be comfortable creating a post for the first three or four times. Like anything new, you need to practice. Partner up with 3 or 4 other people who have the same goals and hold each other accountable to writing a couple of posts a week. Then read each others’ posts, comment on them and share them to Facebook. Even if you are writing from the same locale, your content will probably be targeting a different audience. Sharing good content, even if it is created by other people, will help those whose posts you are sharing and will help you look like more of an expert in the eyes of the people you are sharing with. And it is more fun when you are creating as a group than trying to push through it on your own!

Zig Ziglar said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” Hearing this for me was one of those Ah-ha! moments that you read about. It is really easy to leave an event pumped up, excited and full of ideas. Then you come home and the hard work starts, and often the best of intentions are forgotten. Create a group and work through it together!

Inspiration and perspiration – you need both.

Related articles

• Be The Face of About.me… On A Billboard in Times Square! (wpromote.com)
• About.me Wants You To Be The Face Of Its New Times Square Billboard Ad Campaign (techcrunch.com)
• REbarcamp comes to San Antonio. (rerockstar.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Welcome! This page is set up with links to my slideshow presentation

Your link to a Google + (Plus) invitation

Link to Twitter List… follow the list at REBCORL: http://www.rebarcamporlando.com/ then click “cool! Who’s coming?”

Some twitter hashtags to follow: #Twitterqueens   #retechchat  - information and great people to stalk  follow

Related articles

• Thing 12: Putting the social into social media (colesklibrarian.wordpress.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Interested in finding me on the social networks? Check out my updated About.Me page – click on the pic below to go directly there. A link to my page on Google + is there as well as the to the new Tumblr blog I am setting up. Or if you want, you can set up your own page – easy, free and fun!

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

This Sunday, July 17, I will be holding 305 Sixth St., Leominster, open from 2-4. Come check out this home, now listed at $114,900. Interested in more information? Call the office at 978-537-6401

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image via Wikipedia

I am one of those people who likes open houses.

I feel like if open houses are done right – and this includes marketing – in our Central Massachusetts area they can really help the sale of a home. Over the past year, I have seen an offer come together that was at a standstill because the potential buyers came to an open house and, seeing the activity and interest were motivated to raise their offer. I sold a listing as a direct result of an open house last year. I know that another of my listings was sold not directly through the open house, but because I had held several, the marketing was fresh. I nearly always take pictures or video and post when I do an open so the property gets extra exposure.

To me, an open house is all about selling the listing. I have worked with buyers, but I think primarily I am a listing agent and I think an open house is a great way to get extra exposure for a property. Sometimes this means it sells out of the gate, and sometimes this means that because of the extra promotion a property gets on Realtor.com, Realbird and newspapers and signs there are more eyes seeing the property. In our area, it helps to stand out of the pack.

I decided to track office stats this past weekend for our Towne & Country, Realtors open houses. This was the 2011 REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Event, and while that may make it seem like a special time to see buyers out and about, I feel that no one is going to be looking if they are not motivated to buy a home within, say, the next 6 months or so. One thing that motivated this assessment was a comment in a Facebook group of real estate sales agents: “Be honest. How many of you actually took an offer at one of your open houses?”

Towne & Country, Realtors did. This is what the weekend stats looked like:

(Open houses held at Gardner, Lunenburg, Leominster and Townsend Massachusetts homes)

I am listening to Gerry hammer down the details on the offer and acceptance for a Gardner MA home right now, and the home inspection is already scheduled. We are not a huge office – we had 10 open houses this weekend in several Central Massachusetts communities, between 6 agents.

I can’t speak for other areas of the country, but in our area (we cover Leominster, Fitchburg, Shirley, Templeton, Gardner, Lunenburg, Sterling, Lancaster and surrounding towns) many buyers like the freedom that they have at an open house. Most are represented or have a relationship with a buyer’s agent in our area (and nationally, I would guess), but as one of our agents said, “That’s fine – I am doing this to get exposure for the property.”

And if an unrepresented buyer hits it off with the agent hosting the open house yet doesn’t like the property, I have no issues with that relationship continuing. That is the nature of the business, and not a violation of ethics- it is just the same as if buyers call on the sign or because of the website.

For a different viewpoint, check out Michael McClure’s article on the Professional One Franchising blog

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

The economy has been hard for so long that people are having trouble feeling upbeat. People selling their homes are not getting what they think they should for them, and people buying wonder if they should have held out for a better deal. It just isn’t easy…
This is Lesley’s video…

… and my response:

We can’t change circumstances. We can only control our attitude.

See AboutHom.es for more videos

Related articles

• New Ideas, Springtime (heyamaretto.com)
• How To Develop The Positive Thinking Habit (buduson.wordpress.com)
• Can positive thinking make us feel better when problems are beyond our control? (psychologytoday.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

These are the office open houses for Sunday May 22. Each home will be open between 1:00 and 3:00.

305 Sixth St in Leominster will be hosted by me! Check out the video, and call the office if you have any questions, or would like to see this property at a different time:

183 Farm Hill Road in Leominster will be hosted by Sherri Tammelin. Come take an online tour with Sherri, then stop by to see the rest of the home:

Looking forward to seeing you, and forward this link to anyone you think may be interested!

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Had a great time connecting with my Western MA Realtor friend Lesley Lambert, and a lot of fun!

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

A while ago, a western MA Realtor Lesley Lambert and I were bouncing around ideas. We are always trying to think of innovative ways to approach real estate and offer consumers information and value – whether through video, innovative use of existing technology, or use of new technology.

One of the ideas that we bounced around was starting a state-specific website, with posts created by local agents in addition to us. We are just launching AboutHom.es, with video highlighting local events and letting you get to know us better. We plan on inviting agents across the state to post to the site, adding local content specific to different regions in the state.

Take a look at the site and let us know what you think! Are there any topics that you want covered?

You can see my latest post on the AboutHom.es site here.

and here is my latest video from our Youtube channel:

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Are you on Facebook? You can now search listings RIGHT FROM FACEBOOK! Go to my page and click on the Search Homes tab on the left or click here. This new type of home search is brought to you from the MLSapp.

Here is a screenshot of our Facebook Home Search:

We are also introducing a fun, new way to search for homes and community characteristics on our main blog page. This Lifestyle Search can be accessed here. This is another way that we are making search work for you.

If you have any questions about buying a home, or making our Searches work to SELL your home, please call me at 978-537-6401 or email diane@realtyman.com.

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

originally published in Towne & Country, Realtors blog

Free Bilingual (Spanish and English) Tax Preparation Assistance in Fitchburg!

Cleghorn Neighborhood Center in Fitchburg offers this service – see details:

(a su vez para la página de español)

Related articles

• Income Tax: Online Preparation Options (theworkathomewife.com)
• Should You Do Your Taxes Yourself? (moneyning.com)
• TurboTax Free Edition Offers Free Tax Preparation (turbotax.intuit.com)
• The Best Free Software for Tax Return Preparation (brighthub.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Wishing everyone the gift of time during this hectic holiday season.  Take some time away from shopping, cooking and cleaning and drive around and look at lights, or just take a hot bath and regroup.

Peace on Earth

Looking for a different way to celebrate the holidays? My daughter asked for any money that I was going to spend on her at Christmas to be donated to charity, and this is the list she set up.

Related articles

• Stressed Out Mums Get Help From Kleenex Mums This Christmas (prweb.com)
• 3 Ways to Beat Holiday Shopping Stress (wisebread.com)
• Holidays Without the Hoopla (thegreenparent.com)
• Happy Holidays from Hershey’s! (GIVEAWAY) (susanheim.blogspot.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Looked kinda like this Image via Wikipedia

Pretty easy and a family favorite around here. The kids don’t like any other kind any more.

You need: 1/3 cup butter, 1/4 c brown sugar and 1 and a half cups graham crackers for the crust. Process or crumb the graham crackers (or buy them as crumbs) mix with sugar and melted butter and press into a pie pan.

Filling: Blend 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 c whipping cream and 2 softened packages of cream cheese until smooth.

Pour the filling into the unbaked crust.

Pop into the oven (at 325 degrees) for about 45 minutes (until set and slightly golden around the edges.

Let cool – keep children with spoons away at this point.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Related articles

• How to keep a cheesecake from cracking (christiescorner.com)
• Pumpkin Cheesecake (charlotte.news14.com)
• Our Favorite Cheesecake (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• A Treat For Thanksgiving: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake (hellobeautiful.com)
• Recipe: Cafe Mocha Cheesecake (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Real estate or social media questions? Find me
...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014