Tag Archives: 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

Want to move to Irvington?

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I have a client very interested in moving to Irvington – this area is ever evolving and very walkable which is on a lot of people’s wish lists these days!  Housing is reasonably priced, including some really good deals on 1700 square feet townhomes in a Coop neighborhood – I know, you say a “coop” my thoughts automatically goes to New York and those expensive apartments on Central Park!  If you google “co-ops in Indiana“, you get grain and bean coop or food coop.  This will be a learning experience that I will happy share with you as we move through the process…but now back to Irvington.

Irvington was originally a suburban town in 1870 but was annexed into the City of Indianapolis in the early 1900’s.  The original plat of Irvington includes a winding picturesque street plan, very different from Indianapolis’ grid layout.  Irvington today has more lineal blocks of brick streets than any neighborhood in the city, and its naturalistic plan is considered Indianapolis’ largest and most developed example of Victorian Romantic landscape design.

In 1873, the area was selected as the new location for Northwestern Christian University, later renamed Butler University.  From 1875-1928, Butler developed a campus in Irvington, which subsequently promoted a college town atmosphere throughout the community. Although most of the campus buildings are gone, except the Bona Thompson Memorial Library, the intellectual spirit is still reflected in Irvington’s many association and groups.

Want to move to Irvington?  Click here to check out available homes everything from $8,000 to $260,000, sign up on my website and let’s get started!

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Vicki Reed

Who are your Role Models?

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March is Women’s History Month and today is International Women’s Day, when we take time to appreciate women’s contributions to society. I strive to lead by and set an example for my five beautiful nieces, to make certain they know they can do anything they choose…the road might not always be easy, but the rewards are worth it!

I grew up on a farm in Madison, Indiana, but I always knew I wanted…more, but I could never define “more”.  My beautiful, strong mother set a great example for me.  I was fortunate to have grown up knowing two other amazing women, my Grandmothers.  Between Mom, Granny (Mom’s Mom) and Mamma (Dad’s Mom), I learned so much about life, love, cooking, and well, just living.  I didn’t choose the path that was expected, I could have married, had babies and stayed on the Farm, but they instilled a certainty in me that I could do anything I chose…who knew that it would be a Realtor, changing careers in my late 40’s is something I never expected, but am thrilled that I did and while my Grandmother’s have gone (Granny 28 years ago and Mamma only recently) I’m so fortunate to have my Mom, never wavering in her faith that I will succeed.

Fast forward to today…the strength of the friends I surround myself with (both women and men) astounds me. From those I’m closest to in The Group, My Clients, my fellow Keller Williams agents and the people I have met during my journey…I am so blessed  to have them all in my life.

Who inspires you?  Do you live your life as an inspiration to others?  Click here to see a great MSN slide show on the women who inspire them…who would be on your list?

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Vicki Reed

Why do we “Spring Forward”?

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It’s that time again…time to “spring forward”!  I grew up in Madison, Indiana in the days when the majority of Indiana didn’t change time!  Remember, this is during the dark days when living in the country meant whatever television channels you could pick up on the antenna, in our house, it was NBC and CBS, (that’s right, I never saw Happy Days or Laverne and Shirley until I went to college!) both out of Louisville and when time changed, prime time programming started at 7:00 p.m.!  And scheduling doctor appointments in Louisville was challenging because you had to schedule on “fast time” when you lived on “slow time”, heck, there is a bridge in Madison so socializing and working between the states is common…wedding invitations even used the terms, imagine, getting a wedding invitation that said 5:30 p.m. (slow time)!

So why do we do this?  Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the second Sunday in November throughout most of the United States and Canada. This is supposed to provide more daylight hours in the evening during the summer months.

There are a lot of stories about who proposed the time change and why, first up…In 1895, a postal clerk and entomology hobbyist in New Zealand named George Vernon Hudson was the first to propose a daylight saving time schedule so he could have more time after his shift to catch insects. Then a Londoner named William Willet proposed a daylight saving time schedule in 1905 so that he would have more time to play golf during the summer. While both of the proposals gained attention, neither led to the adoption of a daylight saving time practice.

According to history, the first time daylight saving time was put into practice was in 1916 by Germany and their allies during World War I as a means to save coal for the war effort. The rest of Europe quickly followed with  Russia being the last to implement in 1917, after the abdication of Czar Nicholas II.  The United States adopted daylight savings in 1918 after becoming heavily involved in the war effort.

In the United States, following the war, the practice of daylight saving time was left up to state and local governments (boy was that a mistake!) and quickly led to chaos as neighboring communities often had different daylight saving time start and end dates, while other communities decided not to observe daylight saving time at all. The mass confusion led to the Uniform Time Act of 1966. The act standardized the daylight saving time practice, but allowed for state’s and local governments to petition for exemption.

You know why I like it right?  As a Realtor, showing Buyer’s homes in the daylight allows us to see the curb appeal, the neighborhood of the homes for sale…My Seller’s like it for that reason too!  Seller’s work hard to make their home attractive inside and out, it’s better if Buyer’s can see it!  The market is moving quickly, I’m hearing stories every day from agents in our office that homes are selling within days of going on the market! Call, email or text me if you are ready to make a move!

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Vicki Reed

Multiple Offers on the Home of your Dreams?

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Oh No!  You’ve found the home of your dreams and so did someone else!  We are starting to see multiple offers on homes in the Indianapolis area…why you ask?  Inventory is low and homeowners are listening to their Realtor about the true Fair Market Value of their home and pricing it to sell!  What can you do to be ready to win the bidding war?   Here are a few boot camp tips to prepare you to win:

Pre-Qualify with a Lender who will be available when you need them

To compete, Buyers need to be prepared financially for the home purchase. Offering the most money might seem like the best way to win, however, Sellers don’t always choose the highest offer. Instead, they often prefer offers that are most likely to go through and that meet their conditions. You need a Lender who doesn’t work Monday through Friday and turn off the telephone and email at the end of the business day.

The Shanley Team at Inlanta Mortgage is just such a lender, take a look at my post “The Power in the Pre-Qual” to get a real understanding of their level of Customer Service AND they work when I do, which means they are available when YOU need them!  Having that pre-qualification is almost as good as cash in multiple offer situations.

Offer Higher Earnest Money 

Earnest Money in Indiana is typically .75% to 1% of list price, so if you are offering on a $200,000 home, $1,500 or $2,000 would be normal…but if you offered a $5,000 check (remember, it will be cashed!) AND you were pre-qualified this can sometimes impress the Sellers.  Just make sure you are able to fully meet all deadlines and terms of the contract so you don’t lose your deposit.

Be Flexible!

If the Sellers are building a home or waiting for the school year to end before moving and thought it would take longer to sell their home, consider offering to allow them to stay – a post closing rent back can put you ahead of the pack if you can be flexible!  I represented a Seller who was building a home and because the  Buyer was flexible with possession date (Sellers were able to close and continue to live in their home for 3 additional weeks) the Sellers agreed to a purchase price $5,000 less than they wanted because they didn’t have to move twice and find short term housing!

Listen to your Realtor!

As your Agent, I am working for you to make certain you don’t get caught up in the excitement of a bidding war and overpay for a home…let me do the best job possible for you!  Think you are ready to head out and start looking?  Let’s talk!

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Vicki Reed