Brigita's Blog: May 2009

It's been about a month, now, since I made the switch over to Keller Williams Real Estate, and I am learning a lot here.

In addition to working, I have attended classes to help me improve my business.  I have been doing the right things all along, but these courses have expanded my knowledge.  (I am also working on my GRI designation online.)   

The personal coaching I am receiving is helping me keep focused and on track.  Making a business plan was not my strong point, but I am learning to set goals, long and short term.

Last week I attended an intense 3 day class on contracts.  You wouldn't believe how much there is to learn about the real estate contracts we use every day.  There was so much information to absorb.  I will probably go to the next one that is offered to learn what I wasn't able to ingest the first time around.

Today I will be attending a negotiations class.  That one should be interesting.

Education should be a part of your agenda if you are to succeed in business.  Even if you have been in the business for years and years, there is always something new to learn.  You can never have too much knowledge.

The more you learn, the more your business will grow and the better to help your clients.  So, make time in your busy schedules for some educational courses to better yourself.

Mother's Day has come and gone in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  It is called "Mothering Sunday" and was celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent.

Long ago, people were able to take off from work to travel on this day to the parish where they were baptized, their "Mother Church".

Often, people were reunited with their mothers on this day.  Employers released their employees and servants for this visit.

The American celebration was based on this tradition.  It had to do more with an anti-war movement of mothers in Civil War times.  They crusaded for better sanitary conditions for their sons.

President Wilson instituted the first Mother's Day in 1912.  At that time, it was a day to fly the flag in honor of mothers whose children had died in battle. 

Knowing this tradition is a good balance to our celebration today.  We can include a prayer for the mothers who have suffered the loss of their children in war.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Want to see a different type of competition?

It is the annual School Bus Safety Competition. 

School bus drivers from Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 will be competing today to see who is the safest driver.  It will be held at Freedom HS in Bethlehem.

I'm sure this will be a very interesting event to watch.

This is what you call REAL horsepower.  Not only is it a S.U.V., but it also mows the lawn and fertilizes it.  Eliminates the need for a lawn mower and your grass is always greener and mowed.

If you ask me, I personally would love to have this S.U.V. as my primary transportation.

Are you interested in seeing some of the most interesting kitchens in the Lehigh Valley?  Or maybe get ideas for remodeling your own kitchen?

Now's your oppportunity! 

Wednesday, May 13th, the Society of the Arts of the Allentown Art Museum is sponsoring "Heart of the Home Gourmet Kitchen Tour".

This is a self-guided tour featuring kitchens in 6 private homes, including one in the former Allentown residence of the late Max Hess, Jr., who owned Hess's department store.  Another will be in the Lower Mucungie Township home once owned by the late Leonard Pool, the founder of Air Products.

Caterers and chefs from local restaurants will demonstrate techniques as they prepare food for sampling in each of the kitchens.  The event will also include a silent auction of kitchen supplies and cookbooks, and a sale of flowers and plants.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the tour.  Proceeds will benefit the Allentown Art Museum print collection and educational programs.

Bethlehem's "Tunes at Twilight" will kick off it's 3rd season this Thursday, May 7th, with acoustic rockers Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer. 

The FREE music will be held in Bethlehem's historic Sun Inn's courtyard.

All the concerts wil be held from 6PM until 8PM on Thursdays.  Bring a lawn chair or a blanket.  You may even have a picnic while listening to the music.  Several restaurants and the Sun Inn Preservation Association will sell food.  Wine and beer will also be available.

The Downtown Bethlehen Association will validate parking tickets from the Walnut St. and North St. garages.  Donations are welcome.

The concert schedule is as follows:

• May 14th  -  Fellowswoop (bluegrass)
• May 21st  -  Trouble City All Stars (reggae)
• May 28th  -  The Skulldiggers (jam)
• June 4th  -  Dan Chellis Trio (jazz)
• June 11th  -  The Rifters (classic rock)
• June 18th  -  Emerald City (Celtic folk)
• June 25th  -  Sandlot Heroes/Agolden Era (indie)

Sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to relax after a full day at work.

According to the latest news release from National Association of REALTORS, pending home sales rose.  Many first-time home buyers are taking advantage of the affordable housing conditions, low interest rates and tax credit.

The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, increased 3.2 percent to 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1 percent higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

NAR's Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, said it should take a few months for the market to gain momentum. "This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a downpayment," he said. "We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around."

Keller Williams Real Estate is participating in RED (Renew/Energize/Donate) Day 2009.  RED Day is May 14th.  It is a way for us to give back to the community.  I will be participating in this event to help our community.

Here is a way that many of you can help:

•The list below includes some of the most needed items for our community. 

• Choose products that are in boxes, cans or plastic bottles and that do not have to be refrigerated. 

• Bread and baked goods are not suitable because of their short shelf life. 

• Only recently purchased/good condition items

Current priority items:

Cooking oil

Salt

Diapers

Soap

Toothpaste and toothbrushes

Combs

Shampoo

Canned Beef Stew

Ketchup, mustard, relish, barbeque sauce

Drink mixes (kool-aid, ice tea, lemonade)

Canned Pasta, Beef Ravioli

100% Fruit & Vegetable Juice (Shelf Stable, Cans/Plast. Bottles Only)

Creamy Peanut Butter (Plastic Containers) 

Jelly (Plastic Containers Only)

Other recommended items:

Macaroni & Cheese

Rice, beans, enchilada sauce, refried beans, salsa, tomato sauce,

peas

Canned Green Beans

Canned Corn

Breakfast Cereal or Hot Cereal

Canned Fruit Cocktail

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DROP OFF LOCATION!! We will also pick up as necessary.

Keller Williams Real Estate,

2901 Emrick Blvd, Suite 100, Bethlehem, PA

Tel: 610-867-8888

We hope this will be a successful drive.  Looking forward to all in the community to help out.

Thank you in advance.

Collection starts May 2nd~ends on May 15th!

In honor of our 1st RED Day!!
Please join us in our food drive to support:

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania 

Buying a horse?  Before you check out any horse to purchase, consider asking these questions to help in your search.  Remember, impulse buying or emotional buying can result in trouble for you.

1. Has the horse ever coliced or foundered?
2. Has it ever been lame?
3. Has it had any surgery of any kind?
4. Does it crib?
5. Has it ever been sick?
6. Does it need special shoeing?
7. Has anyone been thrown from the horse?
8. Has it ever bucked or reared?
9. If it sits for a couple of days, how does the horse behave?
10. What kinds of things make it spook?
11. Describe what it does when it spooks.
12. Describe the look and feel of it's walk, trot and canter.
13. How does the horse behave on trail rides?  How often has it gone on trail rides?
14. How is it when you arrive at a strange place or horse show?  Does it need to be lunged to relax?
15. How is it when another horse passes it from behind?
16. Does it ever get tense in a show, or unfamiliar places?
17. How much training does the horse really have?  How many times has it been ridden per week?  Per month?
18. Has it had any time off over the years?  How long and why?
19. What is the history of this horse?
20. Why are you selling it?
21. Are the registration papers in your name?
22. Has a child or non-professional rider been riding it?
23. What kind of a bit do you usually use?  (Severe bits are red flags!)
24. How does the horse act when loading it in a horse trailer?  Any accidents?
25. How is it with hair clippers?
26. How is it to tie?
27. How is the horse in a wash stall?
28. Does it get along with other horses?
29. Are there any other vices, health problems or training issues that exist?
30. Will you make sure that the horse is not lunged or exercised on the day that I come to try it?  (Tired horses are well-behaved horses.)

These questions should help you get an idea of whether or not it is worth your time to go out and check the horse out.

Buying a horse is a huge commitment.  So, ask a lot of questions to help you make the right decision.