Author Archives: Vicki Reed

Co-Op? Not what you think!

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When you google Co-Op’s in Indianapolis, the results go to farm or food cooperatives…but did you know that we also have Co-Op homes in Indy?  I have personally assisted my dear friend Kate in her purchase of her new home…a Co-Op in Irvington!  I learned a lot during this process and thought I would share some it.

When I think of Co-Op’s, I think of those fabulous Park Avenue places in New York City…you know the ones, millions of dollars, thousands of square feet, very exclusive with a fabulous view.  In Irvington, there are 2 neighborhoods – Maplewood Court and Irvington Court.  A housing cooperative is a legal entity consisting of one or more residential buildings, a distinctive form of home ownership that has many characteristics that make it different than other residential arrangements such as single family ownership, condominiums and renting.

The corporation is membership based, with membership granted by way of a share purchase in the cooperative. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit. A primary advantage of the housing cooperative is the pooling of the members’ resources so that their buying power is leveraged, thus lowering the cost per member in all the services and products associated with home ownership.  Members, through their elected representatives, screen and select who may live in the cooperative.

Kate purchased her new home in Maplewood Court, these were built in 1917 and to the credit of the Board, somewhere along the way they added garages to the property along with a caretaker apartment and caretaker.  These units boast an unfinished basement with Laundry hook-up, main floor has a living room, dining room and kitchen – some have taken down the wall between the kitchen and dining which really opens the space – 2 bedrooms and a bath on the 2nd floor and most have finished the attic that really adds to the usable space!  They all have front porches and lots of period detail.  Kate’s unit even has the original doorbell on the beautiful wood and leaded glass front door!

Closing was the simplest transaction I’ve been involved in during my career…money transferred, a few documents signed and well, what took the longest was the issuing of the Stock Certificate – one of the board members actually used calligraphy and issued it from the original book of blank stock certificates!

Great process, lots of lessons learned, Kate has a fantastic new home and all is well.  Living in Irvington was Kate’s dream….what can I do to turn your dreams into an address?

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Vicki Reed

Opportunity is Knocking…

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Research tells us that real estate may very well be at its most affordable level, RIGHT NOW.

Check out this quick video to find out why home buying is more budget friendly than it’s been in decades.

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History is being made. When you look back, will you say, “I wish I had …” or “I’m so glad I did”?

Now is the time to BUY!  Let’s talk!

Vicki Reed

What is a FSBO?

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For Sale By Owner, or FSBO (pron.: /ˈfɪzboʊ/), is the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate broker or real estate agent. Homeowners may employ the services of marketing or online listing companies or market their own property but do not pay a commission and represent themselves with the help of a lawyer throughout the sale.  Okay, so you know I’m a Realtor…what do I think of this practice?

As a home seller, do you know what your home is worth?  My job as a Licensed Real Estate Professional is to know the answer to that question.  Are you overpricing your home?  Underpricing?  How are people finding your home?  How are you managing showings?  Telephone inquiries?  Is it interfering with your job?

With the prevalence of the internet, you can easily advertise your home but for many FSBO’s, you will likely get one of 4 types of buyers:

1.  Serious and in a hurry.  They may be moving here and have three days to find a home, or maybe they just sold theirs and need to get into another or they will lose their contract.

2.  Serious, but not in a hurry.  They can qualify; they may be a first-time home buyer proceeding cautiously or looking for that special home.  Are you willing to hold their hand through the process?

3.  Investors.  They want to buy everything ten cents on the dollar.  These folks are easily identifiable…they are going to quickly make you an offer way under your asking.

4.  Looky Lous.  They really aren’t buyers, they can’t qualify for a mortgage and Agents won’t work with them so they go out and prey on FSBO’s.

If a buyer is serious, they are going to be working with an agent…it doesn’t cost them anything!  Agents are searching the Multiple Listing Service for homes that meet their clients criteria…not Craigslist which is where a lot of FSBO’s advertise.

I will handle all these issues for you…and get your home sold for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time!  The market is moving in Indianapolis, let me serve you and get your home sold!

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Vicki Reed

Tattooed…and Employed

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Do you remember when…having a tattoo was taboo?  I was driving home down I-465 yesterday and saw this on the back of a really nice car!

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There are many myths about people who have tattoos…they can’t donate blood or organs (visit donatelife.net for accurate information!), that they are barred from burial in Jewish cemeteries (Torah law prohibits a Jew from being tattooed, says Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, the presiding judge of the Orthodox Beth Din of America, however, “there is no reason why a Jew with a tattoo may not be buried in a Jewish cemetery.”), only “trashy people” have tats…well let me tell you, I’m educated, own my own business, own my home, drive a nice car, go to church regularly, come from a “good” family and I HAVE A TATTOO!  And so do a lot of others!

What about you?  I was 42 when I got mine, I wanted a specific cartoon character from my college days…anyone remember “Bloom County“?  Opus, Bill the Cat are among the cast of crazies that inhabit the mind of Berkeley Breathed and reading Bloom County in the Ball State Daily News was a staple of my college days!

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It took me a long time to work up the nerve, find the right image and have the money to go through with it, decide where it should go…a friend has dolphins swimming around her navel, looked great until she got pregnant…then those little dolphins became whales and became the size of a dinner plate!  Mine is small, on the right side of my back, just above my waist…I did it for me, to remind me of a more carefree me and just to make me smile!  What do you think?

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Vicki Reed

Mastermind? What?

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What is a mastermind group? No, it’s not an evil Mastermind like Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers movies, or the guy who tied the pretty lady to the railroad tracks in the old silent movies…what do you think when you hear Mastermind Group or Mastermind Coaching?

I was recently asked to take part in a Mastermind Group with Business Women Connect, our first topic, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  This book was originally published in 1937 and its guiding principles are as  relevant today as they were then!

Napoleon Hill first defined the mastermind as a “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”  His concept of the Mastermind was inspired by Andrew Carnegie and according to Mr. Hill,

“Mr. Carnegie’s Master Mind group consisted of a staff of approximately fifty men, with whom he surrounded himself, for the DEFINITE PURPOSE of manufacturing and marketing steel. He attributed his entire fortune to the POWER he accumulated through this ‘Master Mind.’

Since the publication of Think and Grow Rich, the idea of mastermind groups has grown and evolved to become a staple tool of successful individuals.  The benefits of such groups are abundant, you have a group of people available to help you succeed, you benefit from others perspectives, access to resources and connections of others in the group, and you receive inspiration and accountability from the group toward reaching your goals.  Napoleon Hill even went so far as to say there was a mystical quality created when a mastermind group was formed. He said: “No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.”  In other words, your ability to create things in the world is increased by having that invisible “third mind” of the mastermind group.

There are two basic types of mastermind groups: One which is focused on the success and vision of one individual, and one that is focused on helping everyone in the group.  The mastermind group Carnegie had was solely directed at his personal vision. The 50 men in the group were not all there to discuss their own projects. They were all focused on one main goal: the building of a steel empire.

The second type of mastermind group is one where all members of the group are meeting to support one another in achieving a goal. These types of groups are everywhere, but aren’t always named “mastermind groups”. An Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is a form of a mastermind group, where the members get together to support each other in their sobriety.   This is the most common type of Mastermind, when someone mentions that a Mastermind is forming, they mean a group dedicated to success and achievement. You can create a group that is led by a facilitator (sometimes paid), or a group that is run by members. These groups can meet in person, over a telephone conference line, or even in online chat rooms.

Are you part of a Mastermind?  Many of us have created our own “mastermind” simply by those we associate with!  The Group (my personal group of exceptional friends) are a mastermind, we give each other support, feedback and ideas on life decisions…let’s just face it, they are great friends!   However you create a mastermind support system for yourself, consider it an essential part of your success plan. As Napoleon Hill said:

“Analyze the record of any man who has accumulated a great fortune, and many of those who have accumulated modest fortunes, and you will find that they have either consciously, or unconsciously employed the ‘Master Mind’ principle.”

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Vicki Reed

Think about this….

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This is a post from The Inventory Lady, Jo Soard on her Facebook page and I think it is great advice…what do you think?

Letters from your burglar

By: Jan Soults Walker

Successful burglars have lots in common — home owners who unwittingly give invitations to robbery. Here’s how thieves thank you for your generosity.

Leaving boxes by the curb alongside the trash lets burglars know you’ve got new toys inside. You come home to an open front door, a ransacked house, and missing valuables. How did a burglar know you’d be gone? How did they get in?

Check out these 10 thank-you notes from your friendly neighborhood burglars, and their advice on how to stop lending them a helping hand.

1. Thanks for the ladder!

Call me a social climber if you will, but I did discover a ladder in your back yard. Thank you for leaving it where I could lean it against your home and easily reach a second-story window. I really love it when upper story openings aren’t wired to a home security system!

So, if you want to keep me out, store your ladder in the basement or a locked garage. And call your security company to wire upper-story windows into your alarm system.

Vertically yours,
A rising star

2. Loved your trash

Can’t tell you how much fun I have driving around neighborhoods on trash day (especially after big gift holidays) when the empty boxes on the curb reveal what wonderful new toys you have. Your thoughtfulness made it possible for me to land a new laptop and a flat-screen television in one easy trip to your home!

Next time, break down the boxes and conceal them in the recycling or trash bins.

Happy shopping!
Curbside Cruiser

3. Dear Can’t-Get-Around-To-It

Recently, I noticed you hadn’t trimmed trees and shrubs around your home, so I knew I’d have a wonderful place to hide while I worked to break into your home. I really can’t thank you enough for all the great new things I grabbed.

Next time, trim back bushes and trees near windows and doors. Make sure entry points to your home are easily visible from the street — I much prefer to work in private! While you’re at it, install motion-sensor lighting. I’m scared of bright lights!

Cordially,
The Tree Lover

4. Su casa es mi casa!

I was sincerely relieved to find your back door was a plain wood-panel door. I had no trouble kicking it in (my knees appreciate how easy that was!) Imagine how silly I felt when I discovered that your windows weren’t locked anyway.

You may want to take a cue from your neighbor and install steel-wrapped exterior doors with deadbolts on all your entries. And be sure your windows are locked when you’re away.

All the best,
Buster Door

5. Bad reflection on you

You’d be surprised how many home owners position a mirror in their entry hall so I can see from a window if the alarm system is armed. (Yours wasn’t, but I’m guessing you know that by now!) Thanks for taking a lot of pressure off of me.

A little free advice: Relocate the mirror so your alarm system isn’t visible if someone else would peer through a window.

Fondly,
Mr. Peeper

6. The telltale grass

Wow, isn’t it amazing how fast the grass grows these days? I swung by now and then and noticed your lawn was uncut, newspapers were piling up on the front steps, and your shades were always closed. To me, that’s an open invitation.

Next time, hire someone you trust to mow regularly, pick up around the doorstep, open and close various window shades, and turn different lights on and off (or put a few on timers). One more thing: Lock any car you leave in the driveway, or I can use your garage door opener to get in quickly.

Best,
Your Trip Advisor

7. Getting carried away

Many thanks for putting your valuables into an easy-to-carry safe that I could carry right out your back door. (Nice jewelry, and thank you for the cash!)

You may want to invest in a wall safe, which I rarely attempt to open. Or, rent a lock box at your bank.

With appreciation,
Mr. Safe and Not-So-Sound

8. Dear BFF

Thanks for alerting a professional acquaintance of mine via your social network that you were away for the week in Puerto Vallarta, having the time of your life. Me? I enjoyed a very relaxing visit to your home with no pressure of being caught.

If only you had known that posting comments and photos of your trip on social networks is fine — but do that after you return so you won’t broadcast your absence!

Sincerely,
Cyber Savvy

9. Tag, you’re it!

Where are you? When you use popular geo-tracking apps, such as FourSquare and Glympse, I might know if you’re not home. Web sites such as www.pleaserobme.com help me keep track of your whereabouts.

If you prefer that I not visit your home, be careful about geo-tagging. But, otherwise, thank you for the loot!

— Just Tagging Along

10. Thanks for the appointment

Thanks for inviting me into your home to view the laptop you wanted to sell. I do apologize for the scare I gave you when I took it (and your purse).

Did you know that some large U.S. cities are averaging one so-called “robbery by appointment” per day? If you want to sell high-ticket items to strangers, I suggest you arrange to meet at the parking lot of your local police station. I definitely won’t show up, and you’ll still have your valuables (and your purse!)

Regards,
A Tough Sell

So what are your thoughts on these letters?  Do you see the value in the suggestions?  Would love to know if these are things you have thought about!  Even moving into a new home and buying that new TV for the family room, think about breaking down your boxes and recycling them instead of putting them curbside!  Put the ladder away at night, even if you have to get it back out in the morning…don’t make it easy on them!  Ready to sell your home?  Buy a new home?  Let’s talk!

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Vicki Reed

Sweet 16…Can’t afford to go to the games?

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Can’t afford to go to the NCAA Regional play in your area but would really like to take a live look at the teams?  Try this….the day before the games, the venues are open and the teams each have scheduled practices so you can get a look at a team that might win the the NCAA National Championship in Atlanta.  My friends and I have been doing this for years, scheduling time off work and really enjoying the day of watching the teams practice.

Indianapolis is a regular on the location rotation for regional and championship games – when the Butler Bulldogs were in the Final Four, there were about 40,000 people in the stands to watch them PRACTICE!  I was there…were you?

This year, Indianapolis is hosting Louisville, Duke, Michigan State and Oregon and the schedule is Oregon (Noon-12:50 p.m.); Michigan State (1-1:50 p.m.); Louisville (2:10-3 p.m.); Duke (3:10-4 p.m.) – Doors open at 11:00 a.m.

All venues follow the same NCAA times of Noon to 12:50 p.m.; 1 – 1:50 p.m.; 2:10 – 3 p.m.and 3:10 – 4 p.m.

In the South Regional at Cowboy Stadium on Thursday, again doors opening at 11:00 a.m., the lineup is Michigan, Florida Gulf Coast, Kansas and Florida

For Wednesday in the West at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, you have Wichita State, LaSalle, Ohio State and Arizona and finally, my fav, those boys in the candy stripe pants…Indiana University at the Verizon Center in Washington DC along with Syracuse, Miami (FL) and Marquette.

Take time out of your busy lives and stop in and check out the teams in your area…you’ll be glad you did!

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Vicki Reed

Ever been to Alcatraz?

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Not as a resident, as a visitor!  I had the pleasure of visiting shortly after the movie “The Rock” was released…very cool, driving my friend Cullen crazy because I kept saying “Sean Connery stood here”  “Nicolas Cage stood here”!  He finally paid for the audio tour so he couldn’t hear me anymore!  As of yesterday, Alcatraz has been closed for 50 years and I still find it’s history fascinating!
On Thursday, the National Park Service unveiled an exhibit of newly discovered photos that depict new details about the final hours of Alcatraz.  The images were taken on the day infamous prison was closed after holding an impressive selection of criminals including gangsters Al Capone and Mickey Cohen, but did you know there were other residents on the Rock?
Workers on the Rock actually lived there too!  The warden and other prison personnel lived there, raised their families there…can you imagine being a kid on Alcatraz?

The images will be on display for at least the next three months and have evoked a swell of emotion for people who lived on the island during its days as a prison.  Jan Peters, 62, was the last child to leave the site of the island prison. His father, Arnold Peters, had been in charge of relocating the inmates to other federal prisons.  At the unveiling on Thursday, Peters said “I’m realizing that we were a part of American history,”  Peters and former Alcatraz resident John Brunner, whose father was the prison’s electrician, said living next door to the country’s most dangerous criminals was ideal.  They never saw the inmates and had world-class views, fishing and friends.  “It was fantastic to live here. We never had to lock our front door,” Brunner said with a chuckle.  Click here to read the full story on MSN.

How would you feel about growing up in a prison?  While we don’t have that opportunity here, there are a lot of unique properties in our own city for you to call your own!  Ready?  Call me, text me, email me and lets get to work finding them!

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Vicki Reed

Why is your home not selling?

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Why do some homes linger on the market for months (or years) while others are snapped up in a matter of days?  Much has to do with price, but a lot of factors can conspire to keep your home sitting…

Let’s talk about price…this is usually the largest factor in any home that doesn’t sell.  Did you meet with several Realtors?  Let me guess, you chose the one who said they would price it the highest and now here you sit.  As your agent, it is my job to price your home to sell, not just put a sign in your yard and garner new buyer clients from sign calls, yes, that’s what happens when your home doesn’t sell, we just get new buyer clients from you while your home languishes!  I watch the market, watch the trends and provide you with the best possible price to get you to your next home, be it in the same city or across the country.  A great rule of thumb is 10 showings no offers or 2 weeks no offers means your home is overpriced.

Now about that decor…everybody’s taste is different, so less is more when it comes to decor at sale time.  Declutter, move away from the 80’s (or even 70’s?) and do everything you can to make the home seem clean and fresh…change out those “builder brass” light fixtures for brushed nickel or bronze, you’ll increase your bottom line!  Paint the walls a light neutral shade and the trim white, pack away the knick knacks and make the home as clutter free as possible: too much clutter = not enough storage in the buyer’s minds!

Make certain you have finished all those little home repair projects, if a home looks as if it’s going to cost half as much to repair or renovate as it does to purchase, it’s going to take a long time to sell.  Don’t forget to deal with the cooking, pet or mold odors!  You may have to consider replacing carpet or painting walls to get rid of the odor, your home should smell clean and fresh, but don’t overdo it!  If potential buyers notice a heavy scent of air freshener, they will wonder what you are trying to cover up!

I have turned down listings because the homeowner was not willing to listen to me regarding price – they listed with another agent at a higher price and sat on the market for 6 months until their listing expired with that agent…then called me, listed at my suggested price and sold in 30 days.  Will you listen to me?  Call me today and let’s talk about it!

For Sale Personal 2

Vicki Reed

Which Way Did They Go?

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It’s March Madness…where did your favorite team end up?  For those of you who are friends and/or regular readers, you might have surmised that I am an avid (or is it rabid?) Indiana University Hoosiers fan and am excited they are headed to Dayton for the first round, but sad that for Regional play they will be headed to DC instead of Indy.

Do you know that the day before the games start in your location, each team takes the floor for 50 minutes of practice and that these are FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?  Regardless of who is playing in Indy, we have always gone to these practices and with the advantage of Indy hosting the final four and regional play on a regular basis, we have had the opportunity to watch a lot of really great teams over the years.  The last time Indianapolis hosted a Final Four, Butler was in the Final Four and it was estimated that 40,000 people came to open practice that day!  Indy generally has an abundance of people at these free practices, but the Butler Bulldogs added about 12,000 to the usual crowd.

So who do you think will win?  I do 2 brackets, the first based in reality and the second based on my heart…which means all of my favorite programs win!  So go ahead…fill out those brackets, no one is working today anyway…who do you think will be meeting in Atlanta?

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Vicki Reed