Have you got a question about Tucson
September 17, 2007
Post Tags: chrysocolla , Google-Juice , ink-in-your-keyboard , static_website , Tucson-AZ-Real-Estate-Questions
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One of the greatest changes to come about on the Internet over the last couple of years is the trend away from static one way websites to interactive communicative websites (often called blogs).
A little applied logic to the difference.
- Not all websites are blogs
- All blogs are websites
- Therefore there can be websites that are not blogs
This site is a website and it is a blog. You can usually tell the difference because of the ability to interact. For example if anyone actually reads the end of this post (that’s another way you can usually tell a blog we call these post on a static website they would be called a page or article) they will find a place to leave comments.
If you have a website or blog of your own we let you fill that information in along with your email address. When you leave a comment on this blog and you have a website you will get what is called a “backlink” to your website. Backlinks are a good thing because when you have lots of backlinks they make what is called “Google Juice”. The more juice you have the easier it is to find your website or blog on the Internet.
Why is this site a blog and not a static website. Because in creating this site as a blog it allows for communication between readers and authors, and between readers and readers.
This week I met Keith, I’ve never met Keith, but to borrow a phrase from a close friend of mine “Keith is a friend that lives in my computer.” I don’t know how long Keith has been reading these posts, but the other day I wrote about raw copper and put up a picture. Keith told me what it was chrysocolla and if I licked my finger and put it on the rock it would stick to the rock. I didn’t know that.
The other day I was back at that house, I took a small sample inside the house (after all you don’t want the neighbors to think you are nuts licking your finger and sticking it to a rock) sure enough my finger stuck.
Later that day I got home, posted a comment back to Keith saying “yep it stuck”. Keith commented back that had I licked it with my tongue it would have stuck to the rock. That was information that came after the fact and made me glad I hadn’t licked the rock. I honestly wonder if Keith wasn’t chuckling to himself picturing me with my tongue stuck to a rock. And Keith saw the Snoopy cloud. : )
Two things I don’t lick rocks in Tucson and I don’t lick toads in Tucson. I don’t lick either of them even when I’m not in Tucson. Well I have licked a rock or two, but never a toad.
Here is the point, (We were wondering if you were going to get to the point). This site is built so you can interact with me the guy in the red shirt that lives in your computer. You can ask questions, and answer them not only for me but for others that stop by and read here.
It is OK, to ask a question. If I don’t know I’ll do my best to find out. And if you know something and want to share it, go ahead. For example, I have a picture of a black butterfly on a post from a couple of days back. When you look at it up close it looks like it has hair growing on its wings. I don’t know if it is hair or scales and I don’t know what kind of butterfly it is. If you know, please tell me. I would like to know stuff like this.
I have a piece of software tied to this blog that tells me every question people put into a search engine that brought them to this site. Here are just a few of them from the past couple days.
- post tension slab cable hairline cracks
- Pappoule’s Opa tucson
- real state statistics for tucson arizona
- is the economy hurting construction work in tucson az
- used home prices in Tucson, Ariz.
- available real estate in Ventana Canyon in Tucson Arizona
- is it good to leave house for sale vacant?
These are just a few of the searches that have brought people to this site recently. There are many more.
is the economy hurting construction work in tucson az
Construction work has shifted from residential to commercial, there is a lot of commercial development going on in Tucson at this time. So overall, No the economy is not hurting construction work in Tucson AZ. (Just thought I would answer this one quickly)
The old way of searching was you put in your search, started clicking on sites till you found your answer. With the advent of sites like this you can now ask a question. You might be amazed how fast you can get an answer.
If I’m in the office (which I am a lot) I get an email notification whenever someone leaves a comment (even if that comment is a question) There is a check box at the bottom of the comment box so you can get an email notification when someone else posts a comment, it might be me, it might be someone else. I have often found reader questions have been answered by another reader.
It is OK, to leave a comment, provide information, ask a question etc. This site is here to provide information and help people learn about Tucson, and make informed decisions about purchasing or selling Tucson AZ Real Estate. It is also a place to meet other people interested in Tucson either because they already live here, or because they will in the future. This is why I started this site. So make yourself at home there’s cold water in the fridge and the ink in your keyboard will never run dry on this site.
September 18th, 2007 at 3:57 am
Now I am confused. Is this a blog or a web site.
September 18th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Yes
September 24th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
My wife and I have been looking at Tucson for retirement for the past year and a half. We have visited the area three times and have found the retirement community and even the house we are interested in. On our last two trips we have had two different realtors show us the homes on the market with the understanding that we were looking at the time and intended to make a purchase later in the year (December).
We were not particularly impressed with either Realtor. The first realtor we located over the internet. He was a nice young man but not particularly familiar with the community we wanted to concentrate on. This was in March. In July we came back and met with a realtor the specialized in the community. She knew her stuff but only wanted to show us the listings her office had. In fact when we said we wanted to see one of the houses we had seen on our first trip we felt like we were pulling teeth. This has turned out to be the house we have the most interest in.
I have also contacted the listing agent of this house by e-mail and she is not in anyway jumping at the opportunity to keep us informed about this particular property.
None of the realtors we have contacted have done any follow up on our visits or inquiries. We are well queried buyers and may even pay cash for the house before selling ours home in California, so there is no financing issue.
My first question is – Is business so good in Tucson that realtors don’t feel they have to sell the property or be pro-active? No one likes to be bugged but you would think that they would at least keep in touch and inform you when a particular piece of property you showed interest in is reduced in price. You feel like if you don’t buy that day you are a dead beet even after you have told them up front you will be buying later in the year.
My second question is – Is it better to make an offer through the listing agent or select a second agent to represent us in negotiating the offer? And why? I understand the listing agent has to lookout for the interests of the home owner and not give us any information that may be to our advantage. In this market we want to get the best price we can.
September 24th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Jim,
Two very good questions.
First, even if an agent is exceptionally busy, there is no excuse for not staying in communication.
Second, it is always best for a Buyer to be represented by an agent of their own. You are correct the listing agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller, and that agent is looking out for the best interests of their Seller to get them top dollar. The Listing Agent can provide you with information but they can not take on a fiduciary relationship with you at the same time they represent the seller. They can present your offer to the seller if both parties (buyer and seller) agree to a single agent in the transaction, but the listing agent cannot negotiate or advise you during the transaction process. That agent is looking out for their Seller only.
It would be best for you to have representation of your own, one who will look out for your bests interests in getting you the best price possible. Your agent can advise you on every aspect of the transaction, from pulling the comps, suggestions on what to offer, handle any counter offers that may come, helping with the inspection period, the Buyer Inspection Notice & Seller’s Response, title, escrow, homeowner’s insurance, mortgage, etc.
Providing you up to date information on any listing is very easy. It can be set up within the Tucson MLS itself to notify you of any price changes, or status changes of a particular property or listing.
September 26th, 2007 at 5:53 am
Thanks for the striate forward answer.