Coweta Fayette Real Estate & Newnan Homes for sale blog by Richard Weisser of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

Some years ago I applied the term "durability" as a desirable attribute of a well-crafted blog post. I didn't really understand at that time the significance of the long-term usefulness of a daily post.

Unlike articles written in the print media, a blog post is easily searchable and can be referenced for years. It can successfully be indexed by search engines for as long as the page is accessible to crawling spiders and bots.

But durability does not only depend on how the information is indexed. It also depends to a very large extent on how the material is presented to our database of customers and prospects.

A long standing tenet of prospecting is that one of the best ways to keep your name in front of your database is to offer an "item of value" with each "touch." This item of value can be anything from flower seeds to a timely newsletter. It also presents the opportunity for a follow-up visit or call to ascertain whether the item of value was well-received.

Some years ago, I did a monthly mail-out to all of my top prospects and clients. This was time consuming and very costly, as each month a new item of value was sent directly to each "A and B" member of the database. Exactly one week after the mail-out, the follow-up calls were routinely done. It was a slow and tedious process.

All of that has changed since I began blogging two years ago. Now, the information in my blog IS an item of value that I offer to all of my clients and prospects in many different forms.

And since I have people in my database with varied interests, I transform my blog into different forms to maintain a better connection with different clients and prospects. The way I do that is by first syndicating my blog to a variety of websites that may have a unique appeal to one segment of my clientele.

An example of how I do that is my blog on SmokyPhotos.com. It's a controlled collection of my ActiveRain blog posts specifically about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

So if I happen to write hyper-local post about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I send a quick email to all of my database members that have an interest in the topic. It's non-intrusive, and very low-key.

Many email back to say tell me how much they enjoyed the article and photos and to keep letting them know when more are posted. It's not very long before they are looking forward to getting an email from me.

I also have a news site, Coweta Fayette Info that includes all national and world news, and includes a local blog feed as well. Whenever I write a post that would interest one of my news-loving contacts, I let them know that the article has be posted. It's not only efficient, but it adds credibility to what I do.

Additionally, I post links to all of my public posts on both Twitter and Facebook. Many of my prospects and clients follow me and it's an easy way to remind them to click the link and have a look.

The key is applying the right presentation based on a client's interest. It's offer a genuine "item of value" that they can use and reuse over and over again.

And it gives me "face" time unlike any marketing technique that I have ever used in the past! My blog is a permanent resource, full of both useful information and pleasant diversions. But because it's mine, I can mete it out any way that I wish!

And that works for me!

I got up a little earlier than usual this morning. Although I’m usually an early riser, today I had a mission of special significance.

Before me lay the onions, garlic and peppers that I would need to get sweating and three pounds of sirloin to brown, and had to get everything simmering for a chili luncheon at the office today.

Good food is a great way to bring people together, and good homemade food can’t be beat! It’s a tasty and inexpensive way to come together as a team and build relationships inside the firm.

So I didn’t mind getting up an hour earlier today. I know that everyone will enjoy the results of my labor.

Now the question is: “should I or shouldn’t I add more chilies?”

The flame upon the candlewick
On draughts aflutter pirouette
And waltz and reel to tempo quick
Then lay in wait for Winter’s breath.

                        R Weisser Oct. 2009

As another Autumn foliage season comes to a close, I begin to look back to all of the falls of my past with fond remembrance. It’s always been my favorite season.

Full of color, and football, and the smell of leaves and the tastes of apples and pumpkins! It’s the last hurrah of temperate weather before winter sets it, a time of warm days and cool, crisp evenings. A most pleasant time of year for both dreaming and reflection!

Each fall is different with it's own personality, and presents it's own special touches. As for me, I am going to observe, and taste and savor each offering of the season.

And enjoying every moment of it!

There are many prognosticators that say the economy is bottoming out, while some say that there are darker days head. Regardless of who is right and who is wrong there is one thing that is certain:

The human spirit is quite resilient. And no matter how bad things seem to be getting, there are always opportunities to look towards better things that may ahead. And while the road ahead may be fraught with unknown perils, after all is said and done we can emerge from the depths of depression with a new appreciation for all that is good and positive in the world.

And we don't have to make the best of a bad situation; instead, we can make a bad situation better with hard work and determination. It's not always going to be easy, but it is doable and perseverance will get us through the obstacles that lie ahead.

And although we don't exactly need tunnel-vision, we should remain focused. After all, the straighter we travel, the faster we get there!

When I was a young lad, the phrase “generation gap” was coined. This was the age of dissent, when young idealistic and progressive thinkers rebelled against their older stoic and conservative parents and those in positions of authority.

It was an upheaval of the status quo unlike any other in the last hundred years, and it changed the fabric of our society. There was a concerted effort to “never trust anyone over thirty!”

And the term generation gap was often blamed on a lack of communication between the affected parties. The tendency was to either not talk about the issues at all or to vehemently argue your position in such a belligerent manner that the message was lost in the crossfire.

Today there is no such lack of communication. Thanks to the onslaught of social networking, members of all generations have a method of easily communicating their thought and ideas to their broad spectrum of network “friends”

And even the term “friend” is bonding. Offspring are now friends of their parents, employees are now friends of their bosses, and business competitors are now graciously sharing relevant information.

And so the “generation gap” has narrowed year after year, and is now practically non-existent. And although we don’t always agree on anything from fashion to politics, at least we can communicate with each other.

And that’s really a good thing!

Local knowledge means actual knowledge. Do you preview properties in your area?

Real estate data is readily available these days. There is a plethora of valuation websites, MLS tools and public records that can help anyone determine an approximate value of a parcel of real property.

But there an old-fashioned method that is often overlooked these days that is superior in every way to assembling previously collected data. That method involves previewing comparable properties.

There is no amount of information that can equate to actually seeing the properties with your own eyes. If you preview ten properties of the same class in the same area, you will instantly have an accurate feel for the market.

And while that first house that you looked at appeared to be a bargain based on the tax reports, there may be two or three comps that blow it away in terms of condition, amenities and setting.

It’s amazing what you can learn from getting out and opening doors. And who knows, you might just find that hidden gem that is perfect for your client!

I admit it. I’m a leaf lover. When nature turns on the color machine, I can’t think of anything else.

I think that part of the allure comes from the fleeting nature of the phenomenon. The length of time between peak color and brown leaves is brief, requiring prompt action if you wish to attempt to capture the show with your camera.

And while it’s true that some years are better than others, I’ve always been able to find “pockets” of leaves willing to pose for the lens.

So this year I am adding to the collection of thousands of fall photographs I have accumulated over the years. It’s always fun to compare shots from year to year.

And for me, it’s not just a passion, it’s an obsession. And I’ll continue chasing the leaves as long as I am able!

Due to the tremendous response by a lot of very smart commenters on my earlier post: A completely new proposal to save the real estate market. It's not as crazy as you might think! I have honed the idea based on the great feedback proffered by those that made so many excellent comments.

The idea was a dollar for dollar federal income tax deduction for down payments on the purchase of a home for any homebuyer that elects to take the deduction.

First and foremost, the deduction would be a one-time opportunity, and could be used on a first or second personal residence. Investment property is not included. (BTW investors already recover their purchase price over time as depreciation)

Secondly, the deduction would go against the cost basis of the property. In other words, like depreciation, the deduction would be subtracted from the cost basis. At the time of sale, the tax consequences would be the same as any other homeowner who has tax exemption opportunities for a sale.

Third, any new subsequent loans bowered against the property in excess of the cost basis would be treated as ordinary income. This would prevent someone from paying a lot down and then refinancing.

Don’t forget that the suggestion is to provide a deduction and not a credit. Many high-income taxpayers would be fall under the Alternative Minimum Tax section and would still have tax liabilities.

This idea isn’t just about selling more homes. It’s about buyers having more skin in the game which would add stability to the market. Don’t think of it as a subsidy; it’s more if a tax deferment much like a 1031 exchange.

But It could jump start the market during these tough days!

You hear this all the time: “Life sure is complicated these days.” And quite frankly, it’s true.  When I was a young lad growing up in the 1950’s, we weren’t bothered by anything more technological that the three channels of television that were available.

Our “remote control” was mom or dad asking one of us to flip the “dial” to another station. I can still hear the click, click, click of the selector.

One of the earliest “innovations” that I can remember is the transistor radio. It amazed people that you could actually hold a radio in your hands and take it with you as you walked down the street.

I think that invention was the genesis of the notion of having the electronics that you needed in the palm of your hand. Even though the quality wasn’t as good as the stereo inside the house, the portable radio was more convenient.

And now it is imperative that we have a complete and fully operational office in one small hand-held unit. The more complicated the device is, the better we like it.

That is, if only my tired old 1950’s vintage eyes could see buttons that are that small!

A lot of real estate agents are speaking as if the door on real estate sales will be slammed shut if the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers is not extended. And while this opportunity to collect cash has had a very positive effect on sales in the lower price ranges, it really hasn't meant much to sellers with homes valued in excess of $200,000.

My preference is to let this credit just go away. The expiration of the credit could actually lead us back to a true fair market, where buyers buy because they need a house rather than just trying snag a great deal with future profit potential.

I would like to propose an alternative remedy to help sale in all price ranges. My proposal would really create interest in buyers that could really stimulate the market, and it is the only remedy that I have even seen proposed that would actually correct the mistakes of the past.

The solution I am proposing is to make all down payment monies for a personal residence up to and including a cash sale an income tax deduction. Not a refundable credit, just a deduction against income.

This also would encourage buyers with both cash and significant incomes to get back into the market. It would lead us back to the days when more down payment was better, and smaller mortgages would prevent the short position debacle that we are experiencing today.

The higher end market would see an extensive boost in sales, and prices would stabilize. And once again, homeowners will be encouraged to have equity in their homes to cushion them against negative market forces.

So what do you think? A dollar for dollar tax deduction for down payments on a house sounds like a good idea to me!

It’s seems that Old Man Winter has arrived early in many places. And although many places are returning to normal October weather, the withered plants and dry leaves are a clear reminder that it won’t be long before the trees are bare and we’ll settle into our winter cycles.

I am an early riser, but it’s getting harder and harder to be up by six in the morning. And at ten o’clock at night I am completely drained and ready to fall asleep. Even now, after many cups of coffee, I am having trouble getting my act in gear.

It’s the natural rhythm of life, and is hereditarily built into our biology. Our species has developed these traits over thousands of years in order to survive the long. Cold winters!

But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier!

In January 2009, Governor Sunny Perdue eliminated state reimbursements for counties homestead exemptions. Lawmakers failed to reinstate funding and the result is higher property taxes for homeowners throughout Georgia.

In Coweta County, that’s an additional $300 dollars or so for each homeowner, making 2009 property taxes the highest dollar amount EVER for most property owners.

What makes this even more unpalatable is the fact that this increase was not noted in preliminary bills that might have prompted property owners to appeal their assessments in a timely fashion.

For now, taxpayers can only grit their teeth and pay the tax. Next year however, all citizens of Georgia should appeal their assessments and also take their revenge at the polls.

At this point in time, tax increases on property owners are unconscionable.

No one will argue that the Internet has changed the way that consumers do business. The free flow of information has dramatically affected the way that properties are exposed to the buying public, as well as a plethora of advice about the nuts and bolts of a real estate transaction.

Anyone can sell their own property. They always could, there's nothing new about that. But there is one reality that will never change and that is this:

People often pay to have something done that they could do themselves.

There are many times when it is more efficient, convenient, or even cost-effective to hire someone else to do a task or perform a function that an individual is perfectly capable of doing. We all do this every day. For example:

I know their way around the kitchen. Most would say that I'm an above average cook. But I still go to a restaurant often and have someone else do the work for me. It's very convenient.

I did my own bookkeeping and income tax returns for over thirty years. Now I use the services of a CPA. In addition to being convenient and more efficient, it's also cost-effective because he saves me money by doing the job correctly every time.

I am perfectly capable of mowing my own lawn. I have all of the tools of the trade. But my time is better spent doing the things that I do best, which are marketing and real estate sales. So I hired a lawn service.

I once had an HVAC license and pretty much know everything about how furnaces and air conditioners operate. Yet I have a processional service mine because regular maintenance will improve the life of the units and save energy costs in the long run and I know that I'll put off doing it myself until something bad happens.

I can build a house. As a matter of fact, I have built over forty of them, two with my own hands from start to finish. But the last three houses that I bought were already constructed, because the time and headaches required to build my own home were not cost-effective for me. The loss of income during the construction period would offset any savings realized by doing it myself.

My point is this: people will always be willing to pay to have someone else to perform a task for them as long as it is more convenient, more efficient, or more cost-effective for them.

And as long as a real estate agent demonstrates the value proposition of professional service to the consumer, brokerage will always exist in some form.

Because the consumer is willing to pay the service!

I have to admit that I am a domain name junkie. I own a lot of them. Actually, "own" is probably not the right word, because it's more of a lease than true ownership.

After all, domain names require a maintenance fee to keep them active, and if you control hundreds of them that is a very expensive proposition. And once you get a "good one," it's hard to let it go even if you don't need it.

I believe that it all goes back to some very generic names selling for millions of dollars many years ago. At that time the rule of thumb was that a very generic name was easier to remember and thus would command more traffic. The reality is that the biggest sites like Google, Yahoo, FaceBook, and Twitter developed their own brands from scratch, preferring to invest the money in actual development rather than a generic domain name.

And while a long-tail domain name may have some initial SEO benefit, it doesn't necessarily increase it's value as a salable property. Branding is still the tried and true method of name recognition.

So I guess that I'll test the waters and put a lot of my domain names on the market and see if I can recover even a small portion of my investment. I don't see a mad rush to get them but who knows, I may be able to sell enough of them to at least pay the renewals for another year.

And who knows, I might even use the money to pick up a few more good names!

The Abrams Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers one of the best day hikes for those seeking a mountain waterfall experience.

The hike is a pleasant five mile round-trip excursion that takes you alongside Abrams Creek through a deep hardwood and rhododendron forest. The well used trail offers a moderate amount of climbs over root, rocks and ridges, and can be a bit slippery after a rainfall, but should not be too strenuous for the average walker.

The highlight of the trail is the beautiful Abrams Falls. Although the falls are only twenty feet in height, they carry the highest volume of water of any waterfall in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

And the combination of large water volume, a beautiful deep pool below the drop, and relatively easy access make Abrams Falls one of the most photographed waterfalls in the Smokies.

Plan at least four hours for the complete trip as you'll want to stop and take photographs along the way. Those not used to trail hiking may also have to pause for brief rests here and there on some of the longer climbs. And of course, you'll want to linger at the falls to enjoy the sight, sound, and smell of this wonder of nature.

To get there from the Townsend Tennessee park entrance, take a right at "the wye" onto Laurel Creek Road. In seven miles, you will enter Cades Cove. The road becomes one way at this point, and you will have to drive five miles to the far side of the Cades Cove Loop. In times of high park usage, this can take up to an hour.

A short road will take you to the Abrams Falls Trail parking area, which can accommodate many automobiles. The trailhead is on the westernmost side of the lot.

Be sure to carry water and other necessities for the four hour round-trip. Also, be prepared to say "hello" to a lot of fellow park visitors, as the trail is heavily used during peak times.

If you only have time to take one hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Abrams Falls Trail is in the top five. It's a great way to experience what the park has to offer up close and personal!

From our youth onward, it is inculcated into our being that sunny days are good and that rainy days are bad. I guess there is some logic to that, as a good downpour can make outdoor activities a little damp and unpleasant.

But the Creator placed our planet exactly the correct distance from the sun to enable a continuous and renewable cycle of water distribution that brings the life giving fluid to us on a regular basis. Water is the essence of organic life, and without it, we would soon perish.

So as the rains fall, the watersheds of the earth are replenished, and the blessings of life flow from it. Water is associated with growth and thriving, while the lack of water connotes wilting and withering.

So I like a rainy day. It's the gift of life, and a tangible demonstration of grace.

On Friday, I was at one of the high overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains taking photos. After getting some shots, I returned to my parked car and I inserted the key into the ignition. When I turned the key, the card did not start and I heard the dreaded sound that no motorist ever wants to hear:

"Click."

Ok, that can mean a number of things: battery dead, alternator not charging, started gone, belt broken or any other one of a number of things. When I opened the hood of the car, many good Samaritans offered to help me get the car started.

They were very friendly and accommodating, and what I should have asked was: "Does anyone have any jumper cables to give us a boost?"

Instead, I did just about the stupidest thing that I have ever done. I asked them to push the car out of the parking spot, and that I would roll the car down the mountain until the torque converter in the automatic transmission was turning fast enough to turn the engine and start the car.

The helpful folks suggested that might be risky, but not wanting to put anyone out, I said that I was certain that the car would start. So they pushed me out of my parking place and I began to roll down the mountain.

Down the steep and winding road on the mountain!

However, the car did NOT start. And to make matters worse, my engine was NOT turning so I had no power steering and no power brakes. I knew right away that I was in trouble, because momentum was building and I had to push the breaks as hard as I could to retard the velocity of the vehicle!

After all attempts to start the engine failed, I had to look for a "landing strip." That would be a place long enough to stop the car using what available brakes I had plus the emergency brake.

I finally saw my opportunity, a long pull-off and so I made my move. It took all of the strength I had to stop the car with only 25 feet left to spare. But I did it and we were fine.

We just sat and waited until a park worker happened by to empty the trash can! I asked if he had jumper cables. He did, he helped us, and of course, refused any compensation. I shook his hand and thanked him for his kindness to strangers!

Turns out, it was just the battery after all. So off to Wal-Mart in Franklin North Carolina where I switched the battery in the parking lot and returned the old one for recycling. Ordeal over!

But I learned a valuable lesson. The first good Samaritans were ready and willing to help me get the car started. I should have accepted their kindness. Instead I decided to "go it alone" with nearly disastrous results.

The moral of the story: People are generally good, and it's okay to ask for help. That's part of living in a society!

We all know about the impending November 30 deadline for getting a transaction completed for eligible purchasers to qualify for the federal tax credit.

Realistically, if a house is not under contract as of today, it probably will not close in time and the chances are that the opportunity to get the first-time homeowner's tax credit in its current form will be lost.

However, the market is not robust enough to support a complete recovery without incentives, so it is likely that some new opportunities will be created for buyers. In the meantime, we are in no-man's land until something concrete is enacted.

And so we wait ... and hope!

One of the interesting things about photographing landscapes is that a very large three dimensional subject has to be compressed into a very small two dimensional image.

And it can be very difficult to covey the breathtaking enormity of a panorama on a single "slide." And although it represents a mere "thumbnail" of reality, a good landscape photo can serve as a virtual suggestion of an exquisite vista.

So it is best to choose a characteristic of the subject that you want to emphasize, be it color, form, or effect. The result should communicate the artist's intentions to even the most casual viewer.

So don't just shoot a scene because it's "pretty." Rather, thing about the artistic message you wish to highlight ahead of time. It makes the finished product much more interesting!

It's funny how little things can affect outcomes that are down the road. You often hear the words "on track" or "momentum" when describing performance. And there is something to the notion of positive thinking affecting results.

More importantly, there is a necessity for taking positive ACTION. There is a necessity to set the wheels of productivity in motion and positioning oneself for the most efficient performance. Taking the bull by the horns and getting out of the gate goes a long way towards having a successful week!

Positive thinking is wonderful! Positive action is essential. Being proactive and getting things done in their proper order will always yield better results in the end.

And isn't that why we go to work in the first place?