Dan Cummings - The Running Realtor: April 2007

Dating back to the late 1600's people have said "The Early Bird Catches The Worm". 

Well... last night I shut down at about 10:00 pm and relaxed for an hour before bed... 4:30 am Rise & Shine to start my busy day.  Figured I would spend my first hour on a blog before moving into my normal routine.   Life just loves throwing me curves!  Instead of writing my intended piece ActiveRain was DOWN.

That led to all kinds of terrible thoughts.  What if the site just disappeared some day?  All my new found friends would be gone.... All my blogs no longer readable....   That would be a devastating loss...  Next thought was should I be keeping a copy of this stuff,  maybe a note book with all articles I have written.  Should I print out the profile pages of Associates so I can find them when needed?   

Like all worries that fill your mind after a loss it may be short lived.   ActiveRain is up and Running.....

But now it is 5:30 am.... Coffee is brewing and my shower awaits..

So much for the blog I was planning to create... It will have to wait!

But my question remains....  Do you back-up your blog?  

Or for a REALTOR does this appear I N S A N E  ?

My tool caddy is filled with useful goodies.  Of course I have all the standard stuff every agent needs,  Pens, Pencils ( 2H, HB & RED ), Highlighter and Scissors.  I also have a few of my own must haves,  an X-Acto knife with plenty of blades and my old trusty Calipers.

The X-Acto knife comes in handy when I need a few post cards for special occasions.  I can whip up a quick design, print four to a page and trim them with precision.  No scissors or paper cutter can match the surgical slice of my knife along a steel straight edge.

Gotta use those calipers when the paper thickness  just doesn't feel right.  How many times have you printed a CMA on a 75 lb. card stock when you really wanted a 67 pound bond?  You need those calipers to measure down to a thousandth of an inch!

They also satisfy my curiosity when a business card feels a little loose or snug. Had to search through several cards to find one that was just right.  Technically your business card should be 3.500 x 2.000 and my printer did a decent job. My cards are within +/-0.005 which is acceptable.

My X-Acto and Calipers are remnants of my days on the Board.   Today they serve as a daily reminder that details matter.  Precision has always been part of my career and real estate is no different,  I expect and demand accuracy.

After several years in the Real Estate business I am learning to lighten up.  Initially the transition was difficult for me, seemed everywhere I looked there were errors.  Now I'm more of a Reformed Perfectionist and try to go easy on the overly sensitive bunch that fills this field.

Opps.. I have been reading as I write.  In the last line Chris say "It doesn't have to be technical!".  Well.. I still see things from a technical angle.

Not all real estate agents are created equal.  Like any profession this business is filled with a wide variety of people offering everything from top-notch service to those you would not recommend to a friend. We also work several towns so at times the selected listing agent may not be aware of all the facts.

Most towns in our area have what we call the Broker's Tour on Thursday morning that gives us an opportunity to view listings of other real estate offices.  Since I have lived in North Haven over 20 years I know this market pretty well so I usually tour surrounding towns.  Last week I attended the North Haven Tour and it was an eye opener.

Being acutely aware of our rising taxes bills I noticed many amounts on tour that seemed outrageous.  After a quick investigation my suspicion was confirmed, half the agents are WRONG.  Beware of inaccurate property assessment and tax information. 

Ridge Road was randomly chosen for my spot check because there is usually a wide range of inventory on the market. Today I found 8 homes priced from the high 300's to almost two million.  Here are the assessed values and taxes from the MLS listing and the correct figures according to the current Phase-In Value.

The BOLD figures are errors listed in the MLS and the correction is shown to the right, as you can see this is a widespread problem.  The real problem for sellers is that a potential buyer may pass on your home because the taxes appear so high.  Buyers on the other hand may rule out the perfect property because of these errors. 

If you need help buying or selling real estate in North Haven or any of the surrounding towns please contact me anytime via email:  Dan@CummingsTeam.com or voice mail 203-672-2455.

On Saturday April 21, 2007 the Connecticut Shoreline lost the King of Tampa Bay. 

Dave Parcells died competing in his first choice sport, swimming - in Tampa Bay.

I don't recall when I first knew Dave, maybe 1^st or 2^nd grade, we grew up in the same area of West Haven and attended St. Louis Parochial School.  The school contained only one class for each grade from 1-8 so we were classmates for years. The little kid from the schoolyard grew into a man of achievement. 

As with many kids from the neighborhood you loose touch as people grow and head in different directions.  Coincidentally Dave was the race announcer at my first event in Madison a few years ago. I stopped by and re-introduced myself before the race and he made a point to announce my finish as I crossed the line.

It was after that when I looked at his web site, Force5sports, that I saw his impressive list of lifetime achievements.

Here is an account of Dave's English Channel Crossing in his own words, It's Not About the Swim. Although he said that swim was the hardest thing he ever did he continued to push and became the oldest person to complete a Double Crossing in 2002.

The report of his death was on the front page of the New Haven Register today.  There are many more reports circling the globe with news of thisworld class athlete that was stricken with a massive heart attack at age 49.

For me, Dave will be on my mind as I cross the finish line at the Sea Legs Shuffle & Madison Turkey Trot where he would be announcing.

Well.... Another Tee'd Off Tuesday! 

Revisited and revised on what I will call Waffling Wednesday!  When I first introduced the idea of having this series based on the humorous "Ticked Off Tuesday" morning show on my local radio station ( wplr ) I planned to see how receptive the audience was decide whether to continue after a few weeks.

Well... George Souto usually stops by to comment and we had some fun disagreeing but the more time I spend on ActiveRain the more I realize people just want to bee-bop around in a happy place.  I have never been the bubbly type but noticing the photo I used to my right maybe this place was meant to transform me.

Maybe I'll come up with a new series.. Something like "Tickled on Tuesday" where the subject can be anything from Technical Tid-Bits to funny stories.

Nestled amongst hundreds of acres located in the north western hills of the Connecticut shoreline town of Branford sits a 3000 square foot Contemporary Colonial that awaits its next owner. This is a very rare and unique opportunity to live within nature's paradise that was created over millions of years and is protected for the future.

In the spirit of Captain Kidd who may be watching over the treasure rumored to be buried on Money Island off the Branford coast I have provided a treasure map to this home.  "X" marks the spot of this fine getaway.

Although you have the peaceful seclusion of this sanctuary it offers convenience for commuters.  Brushy Plains Road is just two miles from Exit 54 off I-95 or about 4 miles from Exit 8 off I-91 giving two easy routes to drive into downtown New Haven within roughly 15 minutes.  The Branford Train station adds the option of a carefree commute to Union Station where you can continue on to Grand Central in about an hour and a half.

When you are done with work and ready to play there are an abundance of activities steps from this home.   This property borders Pisgah Brook and the supply pond areas of the watershed.  Branford Trail #6 is steps away to start your hiking adventure.  If fresh water fishing is more your style you can row around Lake Saltonstall or maybe perfect you kayaking technique on Lidyhites Pond across from your driveway.

For salt water lovers Branford offers a ton of fun with twenty miles of shoreline.  There are many locations to moor a boat or private marinas if you prefer a slip.

If you are planning to visit Branford here is a quick Introduction and a few good places to Eat.

When you are Coming to Connecticut -  Contact Dan Cummings - The Running Realtor for help with Real Estate.

I am a middle aged white man, non-racist, and aware of Imus but never followed his show. The evolution of the Imus story has caught everyone's attention and it gave me the idea of discussing the topic of color today, Black Friday the 13th. 

While thinking about writing this blog I was reflecting back over all the people I have known through the years, more specifically all the black people. I grew up in the 60's & 70's... The age of racial tension, Black Power, The Black Panthers, The Doors sang about  "Blood in the Streets in the town of New Haven". I went to school with black kids and my scout troop included black boys. 

Undoubtedly you noticed I used the word Black quite often.  My point is that although the politically correct term seems to change every decade, the word black was never considered racist in my day.  Even when I make an effort to be politically correct it backfires.  Recently I have heard the term "people of color" used several times so I asked my wife and son if the modern day usage of "colored people" was now the correct term.

NO.... You can't say that!

Today I took a look at the NAACP web site. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)  They still use the term "colored people" instead of modernizing to African-Americans. They also refer to the Frenchmen as black, maybe he wasn't from Africa.

A specific word should not be twisted into a racial slur when it was never intended that way.  I find it ridiculous when people take offense to such minor things.  But... who cares what whitie thinks.  I actually heard that used the other day, in conversation with a Puerto Rican girl that I'm sure will read this.  I stopped and said what do you mean whitie.... she said you know... a gringo... I just laughed. Should I have been offended?

Dogs... Man's Best Friend or NOT!   

I have always been around dogs but I am not crazy about them.  As a kid there were the chores, feeding, walking and the joy of the Pooper Scooper.  As an adult I notice the stink of the food, shedding of hair and of course the joy of stepping in a fresh mess hidden in the lawn.  All relatively minor annoyances.....

My oldest son's dog ( right ) was with us from about '81 until the mid 90's, about 15 years if I recall correctly.  After that we enjoyed a few dog free years before my youngest son wanted a pet.  We survived the pressure of kindergarten when every drawing or story had to be about "your pet".  That Christmas all the kid wanted was a DOG...but I held firm.... Logically it didn't make sense. His whim would fade and we'd be stuck... but in a momentary lapse of my senses I gave in and my wife ran out that day and came home with dog. ( sofa below )

Now that you understand I'm not a dog lover or hater I'll get to my point.   Typically I do the same 3, 5 or 8 mile run several times a week so I know my course quite well.  The playful pups that may be out with their owner and run into the street as I come by... The ones that obey the invisible fencing and just bellow out their bark.  No problems....

I have never been afraid of dogs but have been startled twice in the last few weeks. Could be partially my fault since the ipod blocks some sound. 

The first incident came on my right as I trotted along and JUMPED with a turning twist as the huge head of a Rottweiler appeared by my hand.  Fortunately I wasn't injured but a dog bite or a strain from a quick twist of my back is a concern.  The second time was a different street, different dog and it made contact on my left. I instantly brought out the Monstrous Me and let out my ROAR of choice words for all to hear.

Yes... I get tee'd off!  The dogs should be confined and not bothering me.  If I get bit there will be no sympathy.  My request will go straight to the town termination committee!!

This morning I undertook the project of cleaning my home office.  It took several hours but I stop to let my mind reminisce while sorting through the pile that accumulates over years. 

Before tossing old junk I did scan a few items and create graphics for blogging. One of the things that caught my attention was an old phone list. The Real Estate Roster for my office from November 2003 contained 42 Realtors and I just counted our current list.. still 42 but of those only 12 remain the same.  Four others are actively in business with different agencies, almost a 2-1 drop out rate. 

Also found a floor schedule from June 2004.  Scanning over the list of agents covering the 90 available shifts I counted 32 that are still in my office. This confirms the nearly 2-1 drop out rate within a three year timeframe.

We all know this is a tough business. Public perception seems to be we cruise around a few hours a day and collect the big bucks at closing time.

FSBO's think the can toss a sign out front and sell their home without using a real estate agent.  Some do find success but the majority will list with a real estate agent within a few months. 

Is this trend unique to the Connecticut Real Estate Market?  We have seen the number of licenced agents swell during the boom years.  I actually thought our office size increased but only the faces change.  Curious... How is the turnover in your part of the country?

When you are Coming to Connecticut -  Contact Dan Cummings - The Running Realtor for help with Real Estate.

The clutter on my home office desk has been growing for more than a few months.  Since we are going into a quiet Easter Weekend I thought it would be good time for a quick spring cleaning. 

Unfortunately the project only kept my attention for a few minutes.  The first pile of paper I picked up included a packet of stretching information I saved from when I first started running.  I have been planning to write a blog on that subject so my cleaning stopped and I started searching the Internet to get my links and began writing.

After the title it dawned on me how quickly I abandon my cleaning project.  As I glanced around at the "invisible clutter" I thought of blogging about it.  So I put the stretching blog on hold and out came the camera. 

It is amazing how long I can look at something and not be bothered by it.  A close up shot looking to the right of my phone shows some detail.  YES... That is a roll of 29 cent stamps! 

There is also that little piece of Christmas wrapping paper that I just could not toss.  Thought it would come in handy for something small.  Those letters are old themselves,  when I looked inside one contained complimentary parking vouchers that I received with my five play subscription to the Shubert Theater.  The postmark shows that was back in 2003, mailed for 37 cents.

Any motivational Advice?   I have always found Cluttered Chaos works best for my filing system but I do need to get this job done.

Well... Looking at all this cleaning work has been draining... Tomorrow is another day!