Simply Des Moines

As a REALTOR® and home owner, I always tell my clients to watch over their home utility bills for accuracy.  My home is serviced by Mid-American Energy for both my natural gas & electric needs.  I have to say I can't remember the last time that my natural gas service went out.  Electricity on the...

Des Moines Real Estate Roundup   Week Ending November 7th, 2008 This week, my blog originates from Sunny, Warm Orlando, Florida!  I emphasized "Sunny & Warm" because I received an email today from my office telling me that snow flurries were flying in Des Moines.  I am in Orlando for two reasons....

I know this is not a question & answer forum for technical support, but I'm at my wits end.  Has anyone in Active Rain Land that uses FNIS' Agent Office / Agent 2000 had problems opening their program after last weeks Microsoft Update? Specifically, after Microsoft installs version 7 of their Int...

Does your local MLS have a rule regarding re-listing properties in order to "reset" the days on market?  Our MLS committee is considering making a rule that prohibits an agent from taking a property and cancelling the listing, only to re-list the property immediately with the intent of pushing th...

Floor Duty.  Opportunity Time.  Floor.  Desk Time.  Whatever you call it, what it really means is that there is an agent sitting in the office wishing they didn't have to be there.It's one of those necessities of the business.  If you have a store front, you have to have a sales person manning th...

September 25 UpdateI spoke with the attorney for our local association and it is his opinion that while the sign is most likely a violation of the state law, it is on the line ethics-wise.  However, What has happened in the meantime is that the State of Iowa licensing division has decided that ba...

Being a REALTOR® in today's society can put you at risk potentially for physical harm.  We've all read the stories about an agent that gets a floor call from a buyer that wants to see a vacant house "Right Now" and ends up being attacked or worse.  Trackstick would be a step in the direction of s...

Today's Tech Pick comes from the NAR Mid-Year convention in Washington DC.After seeing this company at both NAR conventions in San Francisco and New Orleans and now again in Washington DC, it would seem that this company is here to stay!  The Showing Beacon, with its patent pending technology, ma...

  The old adage "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" is so true.  I have a friend that says that all the time, especially when I proudly announce that "I" have just found a cool website or software program... only to be reminded that she had sent that same website to me months ear...

This is my first blog here at Active Rain and I have to thank (or blame) Linda Davis from RE/MAX Realty Group in Gales Ferry, CT.  I first began hearing about Active Rain a couple of months ago from fellow members of CyberProfessionals, an International networking group of REALTORS.  Other Active...