Laguna Niguel Real Estate Blog

I think one of the secrets of good marketing is that with the internet, it still takes the right blend of print marketing, and online advertising. The two efforts should compliment one another.

I've noticed that when I hand someone a brochure at an open house, people are already wadding it up before they leave! It then goes into the car, and becomes a napkin for their kids.

With that, I'd like to introduce the future of Real Estate Print Marketing


They're called Homecards. The concept is simple, the concept is genius. It is a business card sized property brochure. That means that they have a longer marketing life that regular brochures. According to their website:

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  Business cards get put into people's wallets and purses.


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  This is going to change the way people approach print marketing in Real Estate.


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  They have free UV Coating (a must with any print advertising)
  


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  They have an entire set of templates to choose from, to get the right look and feel that matches the property.
  

This is a no-brainer. These will be compulsory for all my listings now.

Posted by Rory at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Here is a rundown of useful ways to begin your home improvement project online.

Lowes home improvement website is a mix between retail sales for materials, and a healthy dose of how-to articles.

Mike Holmes is the host of a home improvement television show called Holmes on Homes.
The best and most useful part of the show's site are the forums where all kinds of home improvement project discussions are currently underway.

If doing the project yourself isn't at all an option. Check out some of these links on how to hire a contractor:

• What you should know before you hire a contractor from the State of California


• How to hire a contractor, plumber, painter, or electrician from eHow.com


• Tips on hiring a contractor from This Old House

Posted by Rory at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I didn't wake up today thinking, "Gee, I wonder what travertine is all about." Instead I found that at an open house, I was explaining the difference between the floors, (travertine), vs. the kitchen counter tops, (granite). By chance, I came home to find a Discovery Channel show called, "How it's made." This show educated me in about 3 minutes the steps involved in harvesting and polishing granite. It involves dynamite, huge saws, a bunch of fire, and water to keep all the machinery cool.

This granite quarry site has
a really cool set of videos at a granite quarry

Enter my research into travertine. In Real Estate it helps to know all the minutiae behind residential home construction materials. Did you know that huge deposits of travertine came from Tivoli, Italy? Did you know that to produce rough, non-slip flooring surfaces, they heat the rock until crystals inside explode? That's what transforms the surface of granite into having a rough texture.

The Roman Coloessum was built of Travertine.


So is a good portion of The Getty Museum, in Los Angeles

Now your assignment is to become an expert on a select set of home construction materials, using only the internet, and pursuing it to the most obscure of conclusions possible.

Posted by Rory at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The summer has signs of winding down. But the fun happens year round in Dana Point Harbor. The Harbor is a huge draw for locals and tourists alike. This is the case year round. In summer it is the Doheny Blues Festival, Doheny Days, Festival of Whales, Tall Ships Festival, and countless other events. In the fall is the Dana Point Turkey Trot, a 5k and 10k run. The Dana Point Yacht Club offers classes for people interested in learning how to sail. There are constant events and attractions in the harbor, and countless restaurants in the area.

Posted by Rory at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

My latest open house schedule is:

Thursday 8/17 1PM to 5PM 19 Bridington, Laguna Niguel



Saturday 8/19 1PM to 5PM 30192 Chapala Ct, Laguna Niguel

Sunday 8/20 1PM to 5PM 19 Bridington, Laguna Niguel


I have also posted a new Orange County Real Estate Podcast Episode

The podcast site has more of the previous episodes.
I've also added a call-in line: 206-339-7679 where you can leave feedback about the podcast. I might include your comments in future podcasts.

Posted by Rory at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I'm excited to announce a powerful new feature for my website.
Now when you search for property, you can instantly use the Google Maps Feature to view a map of an address.
Here is a great example:

Map To my Office

Posted by Rory at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I'm now launching an audio advertising campaign using my podcast. This is part of my new sight and sound marketing initiative. Now when you list your South Orange County property for sale with me, I will record an audio pitch advertisement for inclusion in my podcast, which has hundreds of daily listeners. To take it one step further, I allow you as the seller to record your own appreciation for your property. Tell your buyers how nice your neighbors are, or how romantic the view of the fireworks can be. This is your time to shine and tell the buyers the inside information that they will love when they move into your home. If you don't like the sound of your own voice (like me), I'm happy to read notes prepared by you to convey the same information. Here is a sample of how this might sound.

Posted by Rory at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post