I Totally Saw This Coming!

Realtor Mag ran an article this month about QR codes. I'm glad it's finally catching on in the US, but I just have to say that I thought this was a good idea ages ago. . . long before I dreamed that I would have anything to do with real estate.
But hey, I'm glad the industry is keeping up with the times while driving technology in a way.

Plus, the article is quite good.

Speaking of Wine

Dita Von Tisse is in Wine Enthusiast Magazine. I think her class is incredible and paradoxical somehow. Cocktail and wine culture is something kept alive by a few choice places in Staunton. Here's to more.

Augmenting Your Real(i)ty

I've been into QR Codes for a long time, and I've thought that they would be a great way for Realty peeps to get their brands and messages out.

In Staunton, I want to have every one of our properties to have one of these codes on them. The idea is that people with smart phones and people sophisticated enough to be in the know, will scan these codes to find out more about the spaces to which they're affixed. This one, for example, takes you to a page on our website for the Stratton Building. My office is in the Stratton Building, and we have some really premium office space still available here. When someone scans this QR, they will get a couple photos and a little information about the building, including how to get in touch with us.

Singlehandedly, Madison Monroe Properties will propel the Virginia real estate industry into the 21st century, augmenting all Virginians' reality wherever they go.

Virginia Wine

Virginia Wine is a big deal. People are really crazy about it. I think that when the industry here finds a grape that they're successful with, VA will be as big as CA when it comes to wine.

There's a wine tradition here that was not present in California when that state became the juggernaut it is today. And there are some old families here with a lot of land. And there are some new-comers who have money to invest.

Meanwhile, there is an enthusiastic movement toward locally sourced everything here. That means it's cooler to drink Virginia wine than wine from other places, even if the value isn't currently apparent in today's varietals.

I think it's something to look out for and something to think about in real estate. Wouldn't you rather be near a vineyard than a chicken farm? Wouldn't you rather drive by one on the highway? Wouldn't you rather get married in one?

Hypothetical Development

My friends at Transition Voice sent me a link to the Hypothetical Development Organization. I love it. The ideas is simple: just go ahead and pretend you can do whatever you want with unused buildings. In Staunton, there are very few unused buildings.

A couple are underused, but other than the Masonic building, I don't think anyone would want to do the hypothetical dev thing here. I wish they would do it to the grain silos near Mill St., though.

Maybe I should do it.

Here's a link to the project.

Making a Face Movie on Picasa for Real Estate

Realty people seem obsessed with their faces. So, I've decided to take it to the next level with a Face Movie from Picasa. It's the easiest thing in the world to make. Will this help my business? Should I put my face on my business card?

Vacation Property Management Is in

Is owning a vacation home a good idea? I'm beginning to think so. What's more is that I'm thinking managing vacation homes is a good idea. See, say you're thinking you'd like to make an investment on a vacation or second home. Well, you probably don't want to spend a lot of time managing the space and maintaining your investment in a way that takes all of the enjoyment out of your property. That's where I come in. For a small percent or a guaranteed amount of revenue, I can turn your property into a revenue stream that makes you money while you pay off the investment. It's a great way to get a high return from a property and very "now."

If you believe anything that the real estate gurus are saying at this point, the thing that seems most accurate is that "flipping" is pretty much out. I also believe the Wall Street Journal saying that renting is cheaper than buying for the first time in ages, but that's a different beast in a way. Where does that leave the savvy investor? I think where that leaves you is multi-family/unit dwellings, section 8, or vacation property. And since most REIs are not into daily/monthly maintenance, they need to hire management companies. I am part of that management team. We can guarantee a return and a protection of your investment for a small percentage. Match made in Avalon!


I'm going to blog tomorrow about why you need a property management company.
For now, check out this article on vacation property and how you can get in on the action.

Hanging out with Congressman Goodlatte

Today, Jack Barber and I showed Congressman Bob Goodlatte some of the office space we have in Staunton. We talked about presidents and where they were born. He knows a lot about California.

It was pretty funny because Jack came into my office and was like, "Bob's here." And I thought, "who's Bob?" So I came to the lobby and who's there? How did I forget that today was the day that the congressman is coming? Of course, I recognized him from the few times I'd met him during the last election cycle, but there was no way for him to remember me. Then Jack says, "Jack's from California, so he doesn't know anything; I keep telling him I'll turn him into a republican."

We all laughed heartily.

Men and Women on Real Estate

Think Little in Real Estate

In a meeting, a smart woman mentioned Wendel Berry's Think Little essay in regards to what we're doing with Queen City Marketplace in Staunton. I hadn't read the thing, so I looked it up and did; I loved it. I think I'd like to think about this essay more in respect to real estate. What do you think? Think little and kick ass?

Here's the essay. Maybe you have ideas on what it means to Think Little in real estate.

Trump thinks I should think big. I'll have to read his book to see what he really means. Sometimes his books have titles that aren't exactly what his books are about.

Queen City Marketplace was on the News!

This was an entertaining adventure in Virginia real estate! I was interviewed by Matt Talhelm at the Queen City Marketplace and was broadcast to thousands and thousands of people. The requests for space are flooding in now, and I can't wait to see the marketplace open.

Here's the link to the text based reporting.

Here's a link to the video.

Matt Talhelm Is Going to Interview ME!

Matt Talhelm is going to interview me about the Queen City Marketplace in Staunton. Good thing I'm great on TV. I'm going to talk about how it's a perfect way to start a business with a minimum amount of risk and built-in retail team and a wonderful way to have a downtown presence for a small business that's previously been run online or at home or is just starting out.

I'm also going to talk about how it's an awesome addition to Staunton on a block that's seen a tremendous amount of growth and increase in foot traffic.
The Queen City Marketplace is going to be huge for this town.
I've met Matt Talhelm a few times, and he's a really nice person and a talented television personality.

Installing Phones at Queen City Marketplace

It was kind of a cold, gray day in Staunton today. I've spent a lot of it showing Queen City Marketplace and working on my Real Estate License training. Both have been fun.

At Queen City Marketplace, I met with some great prospective tenants, and I can't wait to see their businesses come to life in that space. I love talking with people about their dreams. I would like to help make them come true. Then David, the Verizon phone guy, came in to hook us up, so we ran around the dark floors of the building, including the basement, looking for the phone box. It's an old building, so "it could be anywhere." Turns out, we have a box on the first floor, it was just covered up by lots of wires that the last tenant installed. The flashlight tour was worth the wild goose chase, though.

I wish some more of the pictures came out, but the old iPhone didn't work very well in the darkness.Tin ceilings on every floor, and raised retail areas on a couple of them. Plus, a weird little basement... little compared to the enormousness of the rest of the structure.

I also just realized another selling point for the space. We're right next to the police station. That should make people feel safe. Maybe someone should open a doughnut booth in Queen City Marketplace. Just a joke, officers.

Anyway, it's been a great week in real estate, and I feel like I'm really getting someplace and still learning a lot and meeting some great people.

Staunton Zone Codes Demystified

It is difficult to find the explanations of codes. It makes you feel dumb. I am usually very good at finding information very quickly, but I circled what I wanted at least a dozen times before my real estate mentor showed me where it was after I asked him in desperation where the hell the codes were.

I hope that the next time someone is looking for these things, they will find them here. Here's the link.

I used search terms like Staunton city codes, Staunton zone explanations, building and life safety Staunton, and many other terms that I thought would get me to these zone codes, but no luck. So here they are.

If you're a beginner or someone who's been looking. . .
You're welcome.

Staunton has a Hooka Bar and MORE!

I really love Staunton's Hooka Bar. You might love it too.

Here's a link to pics taken there recently by our local crack newspaper photographer. I love things like this moving downtown. Some more businesses like this, and various magazine will start crowning Staunton the coolest place in America to live.
We also have an amazingly great cigar store. I like cigars very much. I'm partial to Gurkha Assassins.

Staunton is a happening place that's getting more happening all the time. We just started a Queen City Marketplace Facebook Page. It's in the sidebar of this blog for easy access. It's a great way by which you can have a downtown presence with your new business idea. Contact me if you want some info on how.