Relocate to Wisconsin : February 2012

You are No One's Judge...and Thankfully, Not a Short Sale Sellers' Realtor

depressed woman   People who are losing their homes very often have multiple problems....in addition to financial problems there are health issues, women who have been battered....deaths of primary wage earners. The stories are many, the lives very sad and while we can't fix all of their problems and get them a new life...we believe that doing a short sale gives them a leg up on a fresh start in life. We sometimes have situations where sellers are working more than one job or long hours at a job and cleaning is not a high priority with children to take care of, multiple medical issues and problems that one can barely imagine surviving all at one time.

   Invariably......we get feedback from a Realtor who feels it is necessary to comment on the lack of housekeeping...they should have done this, cleaned that, replaced this....taken better care of....I feel my blood pressure rise as I read the judgemental remarks which almost always begin with how great they are as Realtors and they have seen lots of houses....and they know that the very least that the Seller(s) could have done would be to......

   No....Mr./Ms Realtor...the very least you could do is be professional and realize that you do not ...and will never know the whole story behind the house that did not meet your standards....the life that fell apart...and keep your comments befitting a professional.

   If you or anyone you know is unable to make their mortgage payments, feel free to give us a call and we will get them the professional assistance they need from professionals who pass no judgement.

 

 

 

 

 

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Hartland Colonial Short Sale Open House Sunday Noon - 2pm - Be There !

                                                                                               684 Bradford Way

                                                                                         Hartland, WI 53029-2503

                                                                                                MLS 1239334

                                                                                                    $210,210

                                                                       OPEN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011 Noon – 2 pm

       684  Bradford Way, Hartland, WI  

      This house is what every buyer interested in a short sale says they want…they are willing to do a little work to build equity…be in a great neighborhood with terrific schools….a beautiful lot with inground pool….a finished lower level. DinetteThis house need some “lovin’” and buyers with vision of what lies ahead….strip some wallpaper, refinish some hardwood floors…replace some carpet…

master bedroom      Pick a palette of new paint colors. This colonial will become “your own.” Great layout with kitchen/dinette and patio overlooking the pool, convenient first floor laundry, Family room with fireplace…additional living room , formal dining room and powder room complete the first floor. The upstairs has a master suite with walk in closet and bath…three other bedrooms and -another full bath complete this level.

The lower level has a wet bar and is finished ….awaiting your updates. We have had our contractors furnish quotes on some of the finishing and décor….helping you take the guesswork out of the work that you may choose to have done. When you have put the finishing touches on your decorating, you will be rewarded with a wonderful house…that you thank you back for renewing the inner beauty waiting to return to this place you will want to call home.

                            For a private showing – Call the Hansons, 414-525-0563.

Hurry…we hear whispers of anxious buyers ready to write after the Open House !

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

The Internet...A Blessing or a Curse ?

 

  ????? The internet….A Blessing or A Curse…????

       tv               I remember  my Mother telling about a man coming to their house and talking to my Grandfather about a box that people would plug in and have in their living room and people would  give you news and weather reports and provide  all kinds of entertainment and educational programs. You could turn the box on and off ….it would be like people were in your living room for a visit…only they couldn’t see you, you could just see them.

     man on the moon       My Grandfather laughed…”Oh sure, the same time they put  a  man on the moon.”

   And…that was pre-television…..and the rest of course, is history.

   Today…in some ways, the internet serves as that more technically oriented piece of home entertainment and  education.  Available in any room of the house…office…on   your phone, in your care…the information highway that my Grandfather could never have imagined.

   encyclopedia       We all love that we can put our listings on “the net” share our lives on  Facebook if we choose….appreciate the information of all kinds on a myriad of topics…up to the minute information…gone are the days of the red bound set of encyclopedias….it is truly the age of information….and with that  age come some cautions.

                                                      There is the issue of credability…there are no rules or laws   that prohibit anyone from expressing an opinion….and know that may be what it is and not well researched  fact or truth.

           Buyer Beware should be more the mantra for today’s

 consumer. More information is not always true information….

 the highest and best source of information or more than

  one opinion from credible sources is best guideline for   

   consumers.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Fabulous 4 Bedroom Almost New Mukwonago WI Short Sale ...WOW !

Sally K. Hanson | Keller Williams | (414) 525-0563
1340 Orchard View Ln, Mukwonago, WI
Almost new and Ready to Call Home ! Upper Level Bonus Room, Walk in Pantry, Master Suite, Gas Fireplace..WOW !
4BR/2+1BA Single Family House
offered at $269,555
Year Built 2008
Sq Footage 3,200
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial
Floors Unspecified
Parking 2 Car garage
Lot Size 1 sqft
HOA/Maint $21 per month

DESCRIPTION

Four generously sized bedrooms and 2.5 baths are featured in this open concept colonial by William Ryan Homes. Just four year new and ready to call home at this great short sale price. Your patience will be rewarded with a wonderful home !

see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace
- Walk-in closet - Family room - Living room
- Bonus/Rec room - Dining room - Dishwasher
- Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave
- Basement - Washer - Dryer
- Laundry area - inside - Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking


OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Gas Fireplace with Raised Hearth
- Walk in Pantry
- Master Suite with 2 Walk In Closets
- Open concept
- Fully applianced kitchen
- Great Curb Appeal

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS


Fully applianced Kitchen

Formal Living Room

G Normous Master Bedroom

Striking Staircase

Great Curb Appeal

Family Room with GFP
Contact info:
Sally K. Hanson
Keller Williams
(414) 525-0563
For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing
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Posted: Feb 19, 2012, 2:24am PST

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Chris Gardener...Not a Dry Eye at Keller Family Reunion

  Today, we had the very great privilege of hearing Mr. Chris Gardener, Author of Pursuit Of Happyness and Start Where You Are at the Keller Family Reunion in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Gardener was the inspiration for the movie, starring Will Smith...The Pursuit of Happyness.  If you could hear his speech...or see the movie with totally dry eyes...best you see a cardiologist and  see if you still have a heart. A story of overcoming such adversity....divorce, homelessness, unemployment, under employment, single parenthood...thrown in some racial discrimination for good measure....make that just measure....and know that Mr. Gardener has not only survived but thrived....as a result of his commitment to having a better life for his son. Gardener never knew his Father....and he vowed at early age, when he was a Father...that would never be the fate his son would have to endure. His "life happens" story....showed us all what you can you with what you are dealt....what a can do attitude as opposed to a pity party can produce....a life story that bears repeating, re-reading...and appreciating where you are....and where you can go,...given that you accept that direction as an achievable goal.  Here is Mr. G autographing both copies of his book for us...the picture shows David and his brush with the rich and famous.

      I am proud to be a part of a company that thinks it is important as a part of our training to share a speaker of such magnitude and inspiration....and as we read and re-read his books...we will be inspired and re-inspired by an example few of us could ever imagine living.... Thank you Chris Gardener....and Keller Williams....we are in awe of your persistence, your positive attiude, your tenacity and the example you have set for us all...a higher bar for everyone.

Chris Gardener and David Hanson

 

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Back to Basics ... Giving the Necessities for the Womens Center

 Logo Womens Center Anyone who reads our blog on a regular basis...or gets our newsletter, knows that The Womens Center is our primary charity of choice....and one that we encourage others to choose as theirs as well.  There are lots of times when your community may solicit food, toy or clothing donations.

   Reality says....that to to keep a Shelter running...you need to have the necessities as well as the "goodies". If you click right here...you will find the items that are most needed right now.  Along with those...there are the "Items for use in the Shelter" list. We have made it a mission to dress a number of beds each year....pillow, sheets, blanket and today will be the day we deliver them.  Along with them...we have a box we add to when we do our regular shopping.....it has shampoo, shower gel, cleaning supplies...things from the list.   If you don't live in southeastern Wisconsin...you have a shelter that can use your help...google shelter in your area...OR if you do live in southeastern Wisconsin....and can't get to Waukesha to drop off your donation, call us...we will come and pick up whatever your wallet and heart allow you to give.

         It's not too late to make New Year's resolutions....be resolved to be a better giver...it will make your heart glad and enrich the lives of those who cannot at this time, provide for themselves.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

When advertising your listing ---- what words should you stay away from?

  We all have to be our own critics in writing descriptions careful to paint an attractive picture and at the same time, not discriminate or limit by the words we have chosen. Pacita makes some excellent points....copywriting is copy careful.

Via Pacita Dimacali - ePRO, SRES, CDPE, MBA Alain Pinel in Alameda County CA (Alain Pinel):

When advertising your listing ---- what words should you stay away from?

In a recent post on Active Rain, I noticed that the agent advertised the listing as “Walking distance to...”

It reminded me of certain rules in our MLS about certain words we should avoid.

Even Craigslist is very specific about their terms of use, their rules -- follow them or get flagged and have your post deleted, to wit:

CONDUCT  You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content:house for sale

d) that violates the Fair Housing Act by stating, in any notice or ad for
the sale or rental of any dwelling, a discriminatory preference based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
familial status or handicap
(or violates any state or local law prohibiting discrimination on the
basis of these or other characteristics);


Our local MLS is very strict about observing these rules. It helps to have transaction coordinators and assistant to keep us straight. As such, we as agents have to be very creative when describing properties and their marketable features in our advertising materials --- on the MLS, in print, online, etc.

  • Instead of saying “walking distance” say “near” or “close to” or even state measurable distance like “a hundred yards” or “quarter of a mile”
  • We don’t say “family” but refer to them as “households”.  For example, we can lavish praise on a home, but never refer to it as a home for a “family”
  • Even “in-law” units are described as “au pair” quarters
  • We don’t mention children or parents …. but we work around that by mentioning  “playgrounds” or play areas
  • We don’t mention school districts. Although we can mention a home is NEAR a certain school, we don’t say it’s IN that specific school district. To play safe, simply enter “Call School District”

 

P.S. I did what I thought was right by commenting on the poster's blog about what our own MLS rules prevent us from saying in our listings. My comment was immediately deleted by the poster. Must have been something I said. Oh well...

There must be other examples of what to avoid and how to get around them. If so, please share :)

 

When advertising your listing ---- what words should you stay away from?

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Please Reblog - Gail Wants Her ASUS Zenbook Back!

Everyone is entitled to good customer service....Let's help Gail get what she deserves....and the prompt over night at no extra charge of her formerly  "valued partner" in her business. Customer service is a valuable asset to any business....and as this company may soon learn, if you don't provide it...you will have much less business to give service !  Go Gail !

Via Gail Robinson, Black Rock CT Real Estate blackrockhomesforsale.com (William Raveis Real Estate, Southport, CT):

For those of you considering buying an ASUS Zenbook, I want to share my experience to save you the pain I've been through.  I paid $1,550 for the ASUS Zenbook UX31E (their top of the line model) on 11/21/11 from New Egg.com.  On 11/28/11 I received the computer and began using it.  It worked fine for the first four weeks and then began having problems starting up.  On 1/14/12 it didn't start at all and on 1/17/12 I sent it in to be serviced as instructed by ASUS (it was now just beyond NewEgg's 30 day guarantee).  They received the computer on 1/20/12. 

I have had no phone calls or e-mails from ASUS at all.  I have to call their Customer Service hotline, which consists of people in Malaysia or some other foreign land peering at a computer screen reading back to me the exact same information I obtain from the ASUS Service website.  It is now almost two weeks and there is no indication on when my computer will be returned.  The ASUS Service site states, "Waiting [WB-1] Wait for Material/Spare Parts". 

Well, I've had it!  I'm starting a social media campaign to put pressure on ASUS to either fix my machine or send me a new one!  My client files are on that computer and it is very difficult to work without my files.  Please reblog this post and Tweet it with the hashtags #ASUS #GailRobinson.  Let's see if social media can work to get this arrogant giant's attention.

Thanks,

Gail

 Active Rain Subscribe to Blog    FaceBook Black Rock CT    Twitter Gail Robinson    Flickr Gail Robinson     

 ListingBook    

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

“Our agent is on vacation ….Can You Show us some houses ?” Asked the buyer.

 

 house with keys  We could show you houses…but if we show you the house, we are also your agent for the houses we show you. It is better for you to decide to who you want to work with and stay with one agent.  The buyer said that they had another agent who had shown them a few houses but they really didn’t feel he was listening to their needs and that he understood what they wanted. He did not know the areas they had chosen based upon their commute to work….they were not comfortable with him and had no buyer agency contract.

      We explained our qualifications and sent them information about the areas and about our experience in real estate and suggested that he and his wife discuss who they would like to have represent them in the purchase of their home.

   no money    It would not be fair to either the present agent or to us to shop with more than one agent. When buyers ask us questions like this, we tell them that it would be like if they went to work and at the end of the week expected a paycheck. Instead of getting paid, the employer paid the person in the next office instead of paying them. They laughed…but this illustration made it clear to them that working with one agent and evaluating their background and experience in addition to how they felt the “personal chemistry” fit their needs helped them choose the agent who worked best for them and with them.chemistry

    If you are looking for a home in southeastern Wisconsin, we invite you to call us, test our chemistry and interview us for the honor of being your agent for one of the largest purchases you will ever make. We are agents for a lifetime, and proud to be of service.

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson  

Outstanding Short Value in Hartland Wisconsin - 4 Bed Colonial with Pool ! WOW !

If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity in the Village of Hartland... look no farther than this Short Sale - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, first floor laundry...attached garage, beautiful lot with backyard conservancy border....Bring your decorating touches...return the hardwood floors on the first floor to their glory....Call the Hansons for your private showing...bring your checkbook !
Sally K. Hanson | Keller Williams | (414) 525-0563
684 Bradford Way, Hartland, WI
Welcome to Hartland...A Colonial Waiting for Your Creative Touches - A Great Opportunity !
4BR/2+1BA Single Family House
offered at $210,210
Year Built 1992
Sq Footage 2,234
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial
Floors 2
Parking Unspecified
Lot Size .3 acres
HOA/Maint $0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great room sizes, Good floor plan...living, family and dining room...sunny dinette with patio doors overlooking in ground pool. Floors require your creative touches...refinish hardwood and re-carpet. Redecorate to your taste...at this price...it's a wonderful opportunity !

see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace
- Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor - Tile floor
- Family room - Living room - Dining room
- Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven
- Granite countertop - Basement - Laundry area - inside
- Yard - Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking


OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Natural Fireplace
- Patio and Landscaped Yard
- In Ground Pool
- Master Suite with Walk In Closet
- Finished lower level with wet bar/kitchen
- First Floor Laundry

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS


Fully applianced Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Sunny Dinette

Great Family Room

Living Room

Bedroom

Great Curb appeal
Contact info:
Sally K. Hanson
Keller Williams
(414) 525-0563
For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing
Powered by Postlets

Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS

Sally K. & David L. Hanson