Q.R. Codes

Quick Response Codes (Q.R. Codes) are the latest tool for conveying information. Q.R. codes are basically a 2 dimensional bar code. Anyone with a smart is only a few clicks away from instant information embedded in that code.

Before you can take advantage of this new technology you will first need the right application. On your smart phone you’ll need to go to the app store or market place, depending on what type of phone you have. Search for a QR barcode reader or scanner. There should be several to pick from. Download and install this application to your phone and then you are ready to go.

We have begun to use these QR codes to help buyers and sellers get quick information on their real estate needs. Anytime you see one of these codes whether it be on face book or print advertisements, just pull out your QR code reader on your phone and scan the code. Within seconds the information that we have embedded in that code will be displayed on your phone. This is a new and fast way to get information on any of your real estate needs.

Buyer Beware!

I have been seeing a lot of concerns on the internet from buyers looking for houses, but are not committed to working with a Realtor. Buyers go to open houses, see the ad or sign and call the listing agent. The next thing they know, they have found their “dream home” and are ready to purchase, except they don’t know what to do next. I want to strongly suggest to anyone that is considering buying a home to contact a local Realtor first before looking at homes. Here are a couple reasons why.

 

1.       Realtor Fees

Sometimes buyers get so caught up in finding their “dream home” that the last thing on their mind is asking about potential Realtor fees. Most Realtors do not charge the buyer a commission fee, however buyers need to be aware that some Realtors do charge buyers a transaction fee. This fee is usually minimal, but this is something that you as a buyer need to think about upfront. There are many Realtors that do NOT charge buyers any fees at all, ourselves included, but be sure to ask before you decide on which Realtor you want helping you.

 

2.       Realtor Relationships

When contacting a Realtor, make it a point to ask them if they would be working for your benefit, the benefit of the seller, or just facilitating an agreement. I would think that a buyer would want to know right from the start if the Realtor is going to be working for their benefit or not. Most Realtors will work for the benefit of the buyer, however there are some Realtors that will only work to facilitate an agreement between the buyer and seller. Also if a buyer calls the Realtor that has the property listed they are generally unaware that the Realtor is more often than not working for their seller’s benefit. If this is the case and the buyer falls in love with the home, the best they can expect from the Realtor is to just facilitate the agreement.

 

3.       Up to Date Information

The internet has revolutionized many things, real estate being one of those. Buyers can find information on houses from hundreds of websites, most of them for free. However a lot of these websites have information that is out of date due to Realtors not being able to make changes on these sites. We get calls all the time asking for information on houses that we sold months ago. Buyer’s should keep in mind when browsing these sites, that not all of the information may be up to date, it could be weeks or even months old. Realtors have access to real time information on things such as price reductions and whether the home is still available or not.

 

Just knowing these three things could save you a lot of time, money, & trouble in the long run. Wise buyers know that they need to take the opportunity to choose the Realtor that they want to work with before they start looking at homes. I sincerely hope that you found these tips useful, for more tips and information for home buyer’s you can visit our Home Buyer’s University. Be on the lookout for the next part in the Buyer Beware series!

Picture of the Week!

 

We were driving back from one of our listings that just went under contract when we spotted this sign. This is a professionally made sign advertising a new addition starting up in Newcastle. Notice the spelling of the word Acre? You would think that somewhere along the way, someone would have gone whoa wait a second is that right. We got a kick out of this and thought you would too!

Picture of the Week!

This week I was on my way back to the office from a training class and passed the vehicle in the picture above. It is a vehicle specifically designed to chase tornadoes. I have seen glimpses of the T.V. show that discovery runs called Storm Chasers, but I never thought that I would get to see a real one until now. You would think in Oklahoma this would be a common sight, but really it’s not. It got me thinking about what goes into the process of making one. So I thought I’d put together a quick how to list that I’ve made up. Please remember that this is in no way the actual steps for building a vehicle designed to chase tornadoes, I am not an expert, this is mostly just for fun. I do not recommend actually building one using the steps listed below.

First you need to find a reliable, sturdy vehicle preferably a truck or SUV,  that you don’t use as your daily driver. Looks aren’t important when building a vehicle to chase tornadoes because it won’t stay pretty for long with all the debris flying around. Speaking of debris, the smart thing to do as you can see in the pictures, is to add some type of protective covering around the vehicle. If you are really crafty you can add extra windows to give you more viewing space. “The Dominator” as you can tell from the pictures have utilized this option giving them the ability to film from all sides of the vehicle. To accomplish these past two steps you really need to know how to use a cutting torch and a welding torch. You need to make sure that you are still able to open and close all the doors on the vehicle. Another aspect to think of is to maybe upgrade your engine; the last thing you want is to get caught in a tough spot and not being able to get out.

Having the proper gauges will help you to tell what is happening with the storm. If you are going to add them to the outside of the vehicle, like maybe a wind gauge, make sure you use some kind of reinforced piping or metal. You don’t want the first good gust of wind to take it off. The same goes for an antenna if you are going to use one. Everything that is added to the outside needs to be firmly secured, remember you are chasing tornadoes! You will probably want to add a few more electronics to the inside to help you in your quest of chasing, most importantly is a camera! A couple more upgrades to the inside of the vehicle should be some type of a harness instead of just a regular seat belt & a roll cage. The ride could get a little rough and that extra safety would be a great thing to have.

If you are considering actually going out to chase tornadoes, please remember that SAFETY COMES FIRST! It is very dangerous and is best left to professionals. If you feel you must be a part of the action consider going out with a guide whom has done this for awhile and knows what they are doing. Your life is not worth risking for that “perfect shot”. Now say you still want to go out on your own. Keep an eye on the storm, don’t get caught in the middle. Stay a safe distance away!  As for me, I’ll be at my house trusting the weathermen to tell me when I need to run for cover!

Oklahoma State Fair

Opening day of the 2010 Oklahoma State Fair was yesterday. Don’t worry though the fair will be open until September 26th so there is plenty of time to get on down and experience the fun! The fair just keeps getting better and better with time.

This year there are plenty of new food dishes to try out such as Chocolate-Covered Deep-Fried Bacon or a Doughnut Burger. Of course the favorites will still be available! For a complete list of all the new food items visit The Fair Slice.

The State Fair is offering plenty of entertainment this year as well. Some of the featured entertainment that is taking place includes Disney on Ice, Bulls & Brawn Rodeo, TNA Wrestling, concerts by Mitchel Musso, Tenth Avenue North, & MC Hammer. This is just a small list of all the entertainment that the fair has to offer this year. There is something for everyone!

The Oklahoma State Fair is offering special promotions on certain days to make the fair even more enjoyable. Monday, September 20th, is School Kids Day. All students thru 12th grade get in for FREE! Tuesday, September 21st,  is not only Two Dollar Tuesday, it is also Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Personnel and spouses – FREE! (with military ID for each person). You could also get a season pass for only $23! Planning on riding all the carnival rides? No problem there is a promotion for you too! Thursday, September 23rd, bring a Dr. Pepper can and your wristband is only $19!

It looks like the Oklahoma State Fair has really outdone itself this time! You can check out the virtual tour of the fair grounds to get a feel of what to expect. For additional information about the fair including hours and much more please visit Oklahoma State Fair.