Winning is Good! - And here are the RE/MAX-OBEO INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT WINNERS!

Here are the winners of the OBEO-RE/MAX INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT!!!:

Each of these lucky people will get an Obeo Silver Marketing Package-

APRIL HAYDEN-RE/MAX 100, BROOKFIELD ,WI

Luis Carus-RE/MAX TOWNE SQUARE, MONROE, WI

ALLISON MAIDA-RE/MAX PREFERRED, MADISON-WEST, WI
...and Allison will get an Obeo StyleDesginer

for going the extra mile!

A special thanks to all those who participated!

and....

Keep an eye out for the NEXT Obeo internet scavenger hunt!

Steve

Obeoman

Obeo Wisconsin-262-325-8687

Obeo In Your Area-800-729-6236

Sell Well!

THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS:RE/MAX SCAVENGER HUNT WINNERS ARE:

...being tallied and will be reported here Monday!

Everybody who hunted-YOU ARE THE BEST!

Stay tuned, because I am gonna try to open the

NEXT SCAVENGER HUNT

to a lot more people!

Thanks-See you soon!

Steve

Obeoman

Obeo WI - 262-325-8687

Obeo in your area - 800-729-6236

HEY REMAX-THE HUNT IS ON!

(art from clickshunt.com)

Welcome to the REMAX-WI INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT!

(The Hunt starts Friday, May 9th.)

It's going to be easy as landing a listing

and

almost as much fun as closing!

(...you might learn something , too...)

The prizes?

To the first three hunters who are successful,

...a FREE OBEO SILVER TOUR!

The rules:

1.) READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLy!

2.) Three hunters will win three tours.

3.) Have fun!

4.) There are bonus prizes to find along the way-

Three Obeo StyleDesigners!

__________________________________________________

This is your first stop on the Scavenger Hunt!

Here is what you are looking for-it is all here at this blog.

-A photo of a dog in a sink-when you find it, post a reply to the blog-say something nice about the dog, include your name, phone number and name of your brokerage in the body of the comment.

-A place to call Obeoman from this blog. When you find it, call me and leave a message with your name, day and time and return number.

-then follow this link to the next clue!

See you on the hunt!

Obeoman

steven.stearns@obeo.com

Obeo WI 262-325-8687

http://www.obeo.com/

I'm the idiot. Pass the band-aids, please...

(band-aid from weblogs.redeyechicago.com)

ow ow ow.

ow.

My dialing finger hurts.

Still waiting on a new cell phone.

And my face hurts from smiling.

It's great to be an idiot.

After spending the last 30 days beating up on my cell phone

and myself, I let the market win.

This round, anyway. It was kind of a draw, actually.

But a lesson well learned.

A wiser person that me once said:

"I have two ears and one mouth for a reason."

And yes, there is a lot of market out there.

When people got back to me, this is what they said:

"I am still selling homes."

"I am still answering my voice mail."

"I am still replying to my email."

"I may only be getting back to you

to make sure you are still there,

and to hear how YOU are doing."

"I need to laugh..."

"...can you help?"

Finally. Today.

An email comes back from a great client:

"I don't need more pictures or tours...

...can you put these on Realtor.com? Thanks for helping an idiot through this."

I just wired back:

"You're not the idiot-

that's my job!"

...I'm glad we are all still working,

or trying to.

Steve

Obeoman

http://www.obeo.com/

Obeo WI:

262-325-8687

Obeo in your area:

800-729-6236

BEST, MOST PHOTOS SELL HOMES FASTER!

It's up to you.

You want to sell this house.

You know this single, good photo is going to languish on line

for seventy days and the home is going to sell

for considerably less that the asking price.

But if you put it with 15-19 other photos,

32 days is more like it.

That is what REALTOR magazine says.

So add the power:

-of virtual tours,

-redecorating the listing on line,

-an interactive floor plan,

-web distribution of the tour,

-and one million visitors a month.

Do the math.

Looks good, doesn't it?

Call us!

Steve

Obeo WI -262-325-8687

Obeo in Your Area - 800-729-6236

Got a minute? Great!

...that is all it is gonna take.

Because that is all it should.

You know newspapers are still important-right?

Eight out of ten buyers are on line.

They are important to 20% of your market.

Direct mail? Post cards?

When was the last time you opened it or read it

if you knew where it was coming from.

A refrigerator magnet MIGHT get read more.

And all that time spent

creating a mediocre virtual tour-

when you know buyers and sellers hate bad photos.

Do you have the time to do you own web syndication?

Do you know how to do it?

You are a Realtor,

and your time should be spent

winning listings, negotiating offers, showing homes,

networking, blogging and closing.

We can do the rest-

so you have the time to spare.

Steve

Obeoman

Obeo WI-262-325-8687

Obeo in Your Area - 800-729-6236.

FREE VIRTUAL TOURS FOR ALL REALTORS!

For a limited time,

Obeo is offering free virtual tours

to ALL REALTORS!

Here. There. EVERYWHERE and Anywhere to ANYONE

in the afterlife.

Because we know

FREE IS GOOD

and REALTORS LIKE FREE!

In fact,

WE WILL BUY YOUR LISTING

IF IT IS NEVER-EVER SOLD BY ANY ONE, FOREVER!

SO-

in the time it took you to read this,

the offer expired.

But hey-APRIL FOOLS DAY

only comes once a year.

So, now you get to leave a comment.

I promise not to moderate it!

(...April Fools 2x!)

Steve

(These links below are REAL, OK-no foolin')

ONE MILLION buyers a month are here!
Obeo Homesite - New and FREE!
Obeo SpaceDesigner-Interactive floorplan.
Obeo StyleDesigner-Redecorate your home on line!
ObeoConnect-Bilingual call capture, lead generator and listing tool.

Obeoman in WI-262-325-8687

Obeo National: 1-800-729-6236

Happy Blogday!

Happy BLOGDAY!

Real Estate is Crazy is one year old!

When this blog started,

365 days ago today,

it ignored some good advice:

-Don't blog about your dog;

-Don't put in too many links;

and

DO NOT use the word "I".

After that post and

-yes-

a few keywords and thousands of readers later -

the blog is holding its own.

So thanks for stopping by-

and stop back every now and then.

For a laugh.

To leave a comment or two.

Give some advice,

Or be shamelessly shilled.

But please-

Keep coming back.

Because Real Estate ain't any less crazy than it was a year ago-

and I am looking for a few more rules to break.

Thanks to everyone!

Steve

Obeoman

A dog redecorates the kitchen !!!!!!!!

Listing before Bloodhound:

Listing after Bloodhound:

Obeo has gotta throw a bone over to Greg Swann at the Bloodhound Blog-again!

He thinks our StyleDesigner is "killer".

We just like to think it's what Realtors need to make the market work for them:

It's virtual redecorating:

being able to change colors on walls and trim, flooring, cabinets and countertops.
All with just a click!

Take a look at Obeo,
And then, take another one-

at our StyleDesigner!

That's what other Realtors and consumers are doing.
And it's working-for Realtors, buyers and sellers!
over one million people a month at our site.

Here's what Greg had to say!

And, Greg- we'll work on the music for HomeSite, OK?

It's not that cheesy...

Steve

Obeo WI-262-325-8687
Obeo National-800-729-6236

Free your mind and...

...success will follow!

Next week, Glade will be interviewing Kim Ades,

President of Opening Doors and Frame of Mind Coaching.

Grab some ideas, kick the door open and make it happen!

Achieve a successful frame of mind.

Click here to sign up free for this event

next Thursday (Mar 27th) at 2pm MST.

Sell Well!

Steve

http://www.obeo.com/

http://activerain.com/blogs/obeoman

Really, really, really bad real estate photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Thanks to SellIt WithBob)

Bad real estate photos do not sell homes.

Consumers hate bad real estate photos.

Do not do this to yourself, a buyer or a seller.

You will not make money.

Please call me.

I can help!

Steve

Obeo WI-262-325-8687

Obeo National:800-729-6236

Sold in 4 days with Obeo!

Steve,

Just wanted you to hear about my recent experience with Obeo.
Your photographer, Eric Vidar, was great.

Very personable and best of all took fantastic photos. This home was staged very well by the homeowner and the virtual tour and still photos captured it at its best.

The day after the tour was posted, the home was shown 4 times. All 4 buyers responded after seeing the virtual tour. We had an accepted offer by the end of the day. Also received a second offer and would have had a third if the first had not been accepted.

Am I happy? You bet! Another example of good staging and good photography.

Great job Obeo!

By the way, I've looked at your competition and their so called virtual tours. What a laugh. You win - hands down. Please don't tell my fellow realtors about Obeo. I need all the sales I can get. Let them keep using the other brand. LOL

Thanks for your help, Steve!

Ken Brink CNHS
Certified New Home Specialist-Broker Associate
Direct: 608-314-8511

Toll Free:800-992-2307
RE/MAX Preferred- Janesville, WI 53545
Website: www.movetowi.com
Email: ken@kenbrinkhomes.com

Helping families into Janesville and Madison, WI homes for over 15 years.
Real estate licensee in the state of Wisconsin
___________________________________________

Nothing like hearing great news from a great client!

Thanks, Ken!

Steve-Obeo Wisconsin

262-325-8687

Obeo National
800-729-6236

Do you want a million buyers?

You missed them...if you didn't post your listing at Obeo.

Really, - over one million buyers.

(Actually, it was 1.3 million, but who's counting?)

Their Realtors know about our great tools:

Obeo HomeSite - a unique, Realtor-branded website for each listing.

StyleDesigner - redecorate the listing on line-before they move in.

SpaceDesigner - move their furniture in without the backache. And move it again.

ObeoConnect - they can connect to Realtors direct, in Spanish or English.

And, any Realtors using Obeo can answer all these questions:

How many people came to see my home?

What rooms were they in?

Did they send you an email to schedule a showing?

Here's your chance to get your listings in front of the market:

Obeo: 1-800-729-6236 for service in your area.

Obeo Wisconsin: 262-325-8687

You're the expert.

Call us.

Steve

Don't be a sad clown...

(Sad clown found in Google image search)

...so why be sad when you can be be glad?

Glad knowing:

-you are getting a REAL marketing program:

-one million buyers a month are going to Obeo!

-full service-order on the phone or on line

-the pictures get taken, uploaded and everything else is done by us!

-you get really good content,

-really great branding,-yours!

-really great web exports,

-really great tools that you KNOW buyers

(and sellers)

really love;

...like being able to:

redecorate online, move furniture, and

up to 30% off your time on market.

-plus statistcal reporting that tells you and your seller

your listing is getting seen.

Let's get happy!

Steve

My boss says real estate agents are all farmers...

Yes, it's true.

Do you believe it?

You should.

RE agents are farmers-

or they should be soon!

This agent is consumer-centered.

This agent knows the value of their relationships-

through the entire home ownership cycle;

A lifetime realtionship with their client.

This agent is the value added, and understands

the need for totally free, available information.

This agent doesn't wear overalls, or chew a plug

but does cover it all, is plugged in and socially networked!

Welcome to planting time!

Steve

This is a test...

(Test pattern found in Google image search)

...of the current real estate market.

It is only a test.

The market has done this before, and will do it again.

If this were a complete disaster,

we would all be in a lot worse shape.

True, there are those in tough times.

They should call their banker, communicate with them

and work with them.

Realtors experiencing distress

should take a hard look at their marketing program:

prepare to get your listings on line,

join social networks,

and begin blogging immediately.

This is only a test.

If it were a complete disaster,

you would not be reading this blog.

Hang in there, gang!

Steve

Win. List. Sell. Faster.

Win the listing.

Sell the home faster.

Obeo and HomeSite can take up to 30% off the time on market for your listing.
Obeo is the on line leader.
But we don't say so.
1,000,000 buyers come to Obeo every month to look at listings.
Our HomeSite and other products:
StyleDesigner
SpaceDesigner
ObeoConnect
keep the buyers coming back.
To you.

The Realtor.

The expert in the home ownership cycle.

Call nationally for Obeo services in your area:
1-800-729-6236
Call in Wisconsin:
262-325-8687
Steve Stearns
Obeo WI Consultant

I can also help you with your blogging, social networks

and online communities!

Click here for another view of your success.

On your mark, get set- BLOG!

You might have made history!

...as far as I know, our little get-together was the

FIRST EVER REALTOR BLOGGING SEMINAR IN WISCONSIN

Thanks for coming-

Here are the links resources to get you going as promised.

Remember-Be yourself, take small steps, lurk and learn,

and get into the conversation where you are comfortable.

...and have FUN!

(...remember, sometimes blogs are NSFW -

but don't worry about this one!)

http://obeoman.blogspot.com
Real Estate Is Crazy – a crazy real estate blog. Laugh. Learn. Live.

www.activerain.com
On line community of real estate agents.

www.wannanetwork.com
On line community of real estate agents.

www.facebook.com
Social utility

www.myspace.com
Social network

www.friendster.com
Social network

www.blogger.com
Free blog by Google

www.googleanalytics.com
Free analytics to track your blog performance.

www.wordpress.com
Free blog

www.typepad.com
Free blog

www.rsspieces.com
Learn how to blog for real estate-SEO, RSS tips

http://www.stpaulrealestateblog.com/
Teresa Boardmans' real estate blog, linked to her CWB website, her other blog and activerain

http://www.1000wattconsulting.com/

Common sense for the new market.

http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/
Edgy blogging collaborative, bucks the mainstream

http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/
The best blogging hub for Real Estate

www.inman.com
Hard news for Real Estate

www.rismedia.com
New trends for real estate

www.swanepoel.com
Opinion leaders for real estate

LINK TO BLOGGING PPT

Hard Knowledge for Soft Skills

...stop back and let me

know how you are doing!

Blog on,

Steve

Obeoman

Philly Gal meets Midwestern Guy and moves HIM to Madison, Wisconsin: A Short Fable

(Madison, WI Skyline-seen from Lake Monona)

What a long, strange trip it's been...

and it ain't over yet:

Theresa, my wife, got a horrifically great job offer about nine years ago after looking around on the internet.
She was due.

The offer to become the design and operations manager

for a start-up furniture company in Madison, Wi.

This was her brass ring.

We were living in Quakertown, PA, then, about 30 miles from Philly, just far enough to be out of the worst of the traffic and still have easy access to the Eagles, tomato pie, cheesesteaks, Nockamixon state park and Yuengling ale.
We were married in a colonial church in Dublin, PA.
She was partnered up, had two antique stores and a thriving furniture restoration business. I was working in my other life, as a photojournalist, and doing well.
Then there were the friends she had made over a lifetime in Philly and Upper Bucks county, and her family who looked on me as one of their own.
We had finished rehabbing our 115 year old rowhome-no garage, a back yard the size of, well, maybe two ping - pong tables. (Recently sold for 189k - but I will get to that.)

Her sons Ben and Alex were not as eager as she was, but came around when the realized the could always move back to PA later.
I could not have been prouder of her career efforts-and happier that we were going.

And she knew it.

Because after nearly six years in PA, this Midwestern boy, a Minnesota native,

was looking west at the sunset more often that he cared to admit.

"I know you want to be closer to your family," she said.

Theresa had never lived more than a days' drive away from any of her immediate family.

Off to Madison, WI it was. And what a great place to be.
We took our money from the rowhome and built a spanky new single home, on the east side of Madison in Reston Heights, with a yard for her gardens, -and a garage!

Go Figure.

The snow blower, fire pit, five gardens (one rose, one for veggies and the rest flowers), weed whacker and lawn mower all followed. So did Lake Monona cruises, Mallards baseball games, lotsa Leinies and brats, a little too much cheese,
Taste of Madison, the Farmers' Market, the Badgers, riding our bikes to wherever we felt like and watching our neighbors homes go up, the families move in, becoming their friends drinking wine around the fire pit, Ben staying with us, Alex visiting from PA, and success at her new job.

...the greatest blessing of all-being with someone who loved where I had come from-almost as much as I loved her.

That was five years ago.

Theresa and I both miss Madison, and manage to get there often enough
and host our old friends for the past three years at our new, 100-year old, restored Arts & Crafts home along the Rock River in Ft. Atkinson.She put the company on the map, and went back to school.

She is on the honor roll.
She has one more year at UW-Madison.

She always manages to find a home with southern exposure, and doves.

Wherever I hold her hand, that will be home.

Steve

Obeoman

Why me?-Why now?-Why not?

?

No email.



No internet.



Limited phone service.



For almost two days at the WRA Winter Convention in Lac du Flambeau, WI.



Diogenes got nothing on me.



After spending the past two days wandering around the conference with my laptop open, looking every bit the beggar I was, I made it to my email. I had been able to make a couple of phone calls during the interim, including one from the front desk at the hotel with Obeo president Glade Jones which disconnected for no reason, so everything was OK.



I was even able to hook up the WRA staff with signals on their laptops, but no signal for Steve.



Interesting what happens when you can't see what is going on. Or read. Or hear.



The bad winter weather goes to worse and your company president misses a connection from Utah on the way to a REMAX agency in Madison, WI event with one of your largest clients, the broker and 120 of his best agents. Glade sent me an email, of course. The weather was bad enough to send him home to Salt Lake City.



I also got an email from Jonathan Nicholas, Obeo sales VP, who was also on his way to Madison-to the same event. When he got there-I know he had planned to be-he wrote me an email that HIS email got stuck in a server in La-La land.



Well, you see, this is why Glade was going to Wisconsin because we hadn't heard from Jonathan, who was out there doing the national-travelling Obeo thing with our other clients.



So far, so good. I managed to get enough of a phone signal to call John Murray, our Madison photographer at the event who told me he had arrived at the event alone.



Okay.



Meanwhile, business continues as usual in the background. WAY-background. Of course , questions I could normally answer, things I would usually do remain undone. It is a darn good thing I set up an out-of-office auto reply. I wonder if it went anywhere, or if anyone read it.

Tours, photographers, later, rental cars , now, uploads, Ruth, when, refunds, Dennis, adjustments, Melynda, hotels, how, return receipts, flights, John, downloads, Kennedy, hot wings, -21 below, why.



Finally, two signal bars on the screen while I am kneeling in the lobby at a coffee table .



It's Bill Gates' world, we just work in it.


Amen.

Obeoman

steven.stearns@obeo.com