Shred IT at REMAX, March Real Estate Numbers, & May NAPW Meeting

DCG — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:33:44 +0000

April Greetings from The Dennison Capen Group team!

March real estate numbers are out and the report is mixed. March home sales numbers paint a picture of a Portland-area housing market teetering on the edge of good news. Comparing March 2012 with March 2011 shows improvement in both pending and closed sales, which were also up compared to the previous month. You can review the complete report here.

In other news, we are happy to sponsor “Shred Day” day at the REMAX office May 5th from 10 am to 1 pm. We will have “Shred IT” on site so we can help you clear paper clutter, with refreshments to help you take the load off. If you are interested in bringing in a box or two, please RSVP by May 2nd to kira@dcgpdx.com.

And, we invite local female professionals to join us for our May 1 meeting at Wildwood Restaurant for NAPW— the National Association of Professional Women. For details click here or contact kira@dcgpdx.com.

March Business Workshop Recap, Part 2: 4 Tips To Telling Your Personal & Professional Brand Story

DCG — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:12:22 +0000

We wanted to continue our recap of our first Q1 Business Workshop with Big Small Brands. If you missed the first part of the round-up, make sure you check out Part One for the first 4 Tips! Jen Barth continues with the last 4 takeaways.

5. Use the Power of Picture
Even the most brilliant stories need help. Consider how you can accompany them visually through the use of Colors & Bolding, imagery to make it easier for readers to digest information (Please, no bad clip art! invest in a good — and inexpensive — stock imagery library like veer). Or, consider designing a custom infographic. A few check out infographics showcase, nerdmodo, and coolinfographics.com for some inspiration.

6. Don’t Travel Solo
Every strong story has a cast of characters, so don’t go at yours alone. People love a good story of struggle, rejection, and failure. So what “hero’s journey” did you take on your path to start/grow your business? Many B2B stories are much stronger when you put your client, or industry challenge, as the central character, and you become the trusty sidekick instead. Everyone loves a great story of revenge or failure: it humanizes you!

7. Make It Stick & Make A Choice
In “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive & Others Don’t, Chip and Dan Heath profile the elements of memorable business stories. Among them are Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, & Emotion. I recommend this read for loads of examples. And remember, your brand is the lens through which all communications, actions, and resource decisions (time, money, and energy) should be filtered. Get clear before you create!

8. Look in the Mirror
Ask yourself: are you currently speaking online in an authentic and credible voice? Are you making promises you can keep? Is what you are saying relevant, valuable, and motivating to your key targets? Try telling it to a mirror, or to a trusted friend or peer over a glass of wine, to get a better sense of what feels right, and what needs work. Or — sit down and write your “business obituary.” If you closed your business tomorrow, what are the most important legacies you feel you would leave behind? Often these aren’t even mentioned in our “About Us” content. So don’t be afraid to get out the eraser and start from scratch!

And The Moral Of the Story Is…

In today’s modern age of emerging technologies and social media platforms, its become easier and easier to connect and engage — but if we don’t remember how to tell our stories in simple and clear ways, none of it matters. I think John Winsor sums it up well when he notes, “Stories are efficient. In today’s ADD society it isn’t possible to detail all of the data to scientifically prove your point. A story helps people take the leap of faith necessary to be inspired to take action.”

And that’s really what we’re looking for when prospecting our businesses and building our brands, isn’t it?

Happy storytelling! If you have any questions feel free to get in touch anytime. And hope to see you at our next workshop on April 24!

Portland Residential Real Estate Report: February 2012

DCG — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:58:54 +0000

The market continues to improve with the average sales price going up and the inventory going down. We are looking forward to a busy spring and summer.

February Residential Highlights
While there were fewer active and new listings on the market, sales activity in Metro Portland showed an improvement in both pending and closed sales in February 2012. Also notable in February was a decrease in inventory, down from 7.0 last month and the lowest February inventory since 2007.

Closed Sales were up 17.5% in February 2012 compared to February 2011. Pending sales grew 32.5%, and new listings dropped 13.6%.
Comparing the previous month of January 2012 with February 2012, closed sales grew from 1,224 to 1,262 (3.1%). Pending sales also
increased from 1,823 to 2,109 (15.7%). New listings dropped from 2,613 to 2,492 (-4.6%).

Sale Prices
Average sale price for February 2012 rose 4.3% compared to February 2011. Median sale price fell 1.3%.

Month to month, comparing January 2012 to February 2012, average sale price went up from $249,100 to $255,100 (2.4%) and the median sale price rose from $207,500 to $211,000 (1.7%).

Year-to-Date
Comparing January-February 2012 with the same period in 2011 shows closed sales increased 17.9%. Pending sales were up 26.3%, and new listings decreased by 15%.

A comparison of year-to-date totals between 2012 and 2011 shows average sales price rose 1.8% and median sale price decreased 2.3%.

For a copy of the full February report, A Publication of RMLS^™ you can download

Here

March Business Workshop Recap, Part 1: 4 Tips To Telling Your Personal & Professional Brand Story

DCG — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:56:23 +0000

Last week, we held our Q1 Business Workshop with Big Small Brands. It was great to see some of you there! This time, our featured topic was Telling Your Personal & Professional Brand Story. We’ve asked Jen Barth to share some key highlights and takeaways in a 2-series post for anyone who wasn’t able to attend the event. Check back next week for 4 more tips, too!

Guest Post by Jen Barth, founder of Big Small Brands.

First Things First: Why Brand Storytelling Matters
The notion of “Brand Storytelling” is a big buzzword among today’s marketers, and for good reason: Stories help give emotional context and humanity, define relationships, and connect emotionally by sharing personal experiences through familiar frameworks.

But wait…there’s more. Research is proving that stories are also critical to getting your business message across. In another workshop I led with Online Newsroom’s Terri Nopp, she shared results from a recent study conducted by the London School of Business, that prove what I think we all know, inherently, already: stories are more interesting to hear, so we listen to them more carefully. Did you know that…

5-10% of people retain information when you simply share a statistic or fact
25-30% will retain it if you include a story with your statistic
65-70% will retain it if you simply tell a story.

So why aren’t we telling more stories in our business communications?

As Jon Thomas notes in “The Power of Brand Storytelling,” “The balance of power has shifted. It’s gone from advertisers with deep pockets, throwing money at one-way media, into the hands of the audience members. The age of interruptive media is over, and that’s where brand storytelling begins.”

The Framework of Story
Think back to a powerful story you’ve heard: they all have the same basic framework: a Character, a Conflict or Challenge, a Plot, and a Message. We’ve been exposed to this framework since before we could read — or even speak – and yet, somehow, as the years go by, we get caught up in business jargon and acronyms and forget this simple formula.

Here are 4 of the 8 tips we shared for Telling Your Brand Story. Check back next week for Part 2!

8 Tips For Sharing Your Story
“Words are how we think. Stories are how we link.” —Christina Baldwin

1. Sweat the Small Stuff
First impressions count! People form an impression of the professionalism of your brand in under 1/20^th of a second. You may have a great story to tell, but if your business name is hard to remember/pronounce, or your website doesn’t have a simple navigation and clear calls-to-action, your story may not matter because it won’t get heard.

2. It’s An Onion…Not A Grape
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no story was ever told in one sentence (or paragraph, for that matter). Think of your story as a series of chapters, not as something to share and digest in one sitting.

3. Search for Your “Samoa”
Research shows that 85% of people will take a chance on your business if they know something about you personally. I shared an example of a story about selling Girl Scout cookies as a child that tells people more about who I am as a professional — and a person — than my stuffy corporate bio, or my Linked In profile ever will. Because of this, I recently re-wrote my bio as a series of mini-stories, which I will continue to evolve over time. It’s no surprise, too, that the blog post I wrote, The Little Tomato Revealed: 8 Things You May Not Know About Me, has the highest click-through rate of anything I’ve written — on far more important topics! — in the past year.

4. Content Is Your Currency
Most of us are familiar with paid advertising and marketing models. What if we had to pay for each word we chose to put on our websites and across social media channels? We’d be a lot more careful, wouldn’t we? In today’s landscape, content is our currency: Use it, spend it, and share it wisely. Make it relevant, timely, truthful, and credible. And make every word count.

We’ll share 4 more tips next week so check back then!

DCG Community Spotlight: The National Association of Professional Women

DCG — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:17:09 +0000

This week, I would like to continue our Community Spotlight series by featuring an organization that is very important to me: The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). This organization is especially meaningful because I (Kira Dennison Capen) am the President of the Portland Local Chapter of NAPW.

The NAPW is an exclusive network for professional women to interact, exchange ideas, educate, and empower. Members enjoy a wealth of resources, benefits, and services dedicated to enhancing their lives and promoting their businesses and careers. NAPW helps its members primarily through their wide-reaching networking programs, which help members connect and help gain exposure. NAPW also supports and endorses several charities and nonprofit organizations focused on women’s issues and child wellness.

If you’re looking to learn more about NAPW, or are simply looking for an opportunity to connect with other professional women in the Portland area, you are invited to join me and the Portland Chapter for our next monthly networking event:

When: Tuesday, April 3 at 11:45 am
Where: Wildwood Restaurant; 1221 NW 21st Ave, Portland 97210
What: $30 + tip includes lunch, dessert, drinks, and meeting space

If you are interested in joining this event, please RSVP by March 27th by sending me an e-mail at kira@dcgpdx.com as space is limited! Learn more here.

As always, we encourage you to contact us directly anytime for more information on getting involved. We’re also always keeping our eyes out for other community efforts that need support, so please contact us anytime if you have a suggestion for organizations to highlight in future posts.

5 Things You May Not Know About Kira Dennison Capen

DCG — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:04:54 +0000

Thursday greetings! It was great to see many of you at yesterday’s Business Series Workshop, 8 Tips to Telling Your Personal & Professional Brand Story with Big Small Brands. We’ll be posting a recap next week for anyone who wasn’t able to attend. In the meantime here’s a peek into the life of Kira Dennison Capen, our Creative Marketing Consultant, as we continue our DCG team series posts:

Kira is a certified yoga instructor and amateur photographer.
She’s obsessed with spaghetti. Her favorite recipe is one that derived from the old Sicilian lady that lived in her Mom’s colorful Detroit neighborhood in the 50’s. She is constantly trying to perfect the recipe but can never quite master it like her mamma makes. She figures she has the rest of her life to try…
Traveling is paramount to her happiness. One of the reasons she is back again full-time at the Dennison Capen Group, after a brief stint in the corporate world, is because it did not allow the flexibility for family travel to share new experiences together. It is rare to not have a trip of some sort to look forward to and she appreciates the change of perspective that traveling provides.
Kira jumped out of an airplane once. She’s not sure she’d do it again but it was an incredible rush!
She loves children more than anything in the world…especially her 4 1/2 year old son Beck!

If you didn’t catch them before, be sure to read up on 5 Things About Jeff Capen, Carol Hushman, and Karrie Ruby.

And speaking of stories, there’s still time to donate books to our children’s book drive to benefit Reach out and Read Oregon, feel free to drop gently-used or new books at our offices anytime or at any of these locations around town.

FIVE STAR Real Estate Award 2012

DCG — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:59:15 +0000

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Jeff Capen and Carol Hushman were each recently named a FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent for 2012, representing only 7% of real estate agents in the Portland market.

“This is an incredible honor, especially since it shows that our clients truly value us and our dedication to customer service and satisfaction. We are also very proud of Carol, who truly deserves this recognition and is invaluable to The Dennison Capen Group team.” -Jeff Capen

This award is especially meaningful to us because it is based on direct feedback from our clients— thank you to all who participated in the surveys!

For those of you who are curious about the selection process for this award, feel free to read our previous post, “What It Means To Be A FIVE STAR Real Estate Agent”. Additionally, if you would like to see how we feel we meet the Selection Criteria for this award, check out our spotlights on Customer Service and Integrity. Stay tuned for our continuation of this series in upcoming posts, too!

What NOT To Do When Applying For A Mortgage

DCG — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:37:11 +0000

Ever since the “mortgage meltdown” underwriting standards have tightened to ensure high quality loans are approved and funded. In the end, this will be good news! However, for those wanting to get a mortgage, the process might seem different than 4-5 years ago. A highly experienced mortgage advisor, as well as an experienced team, is necessary to get your mortgage loan funded today. Also, it is very important that you listen to the advice of your mortgage advisor. We know what we are doing and know how to get your loan closed. If you can follow some simple advice then the process will be much smoother and you might get the keys to your new home and think “The mortgage process was a piece of cake!” That is what I want to hear when your loan has closed.

Below I’ve outlined points that are designed to give you a brief, but very important, insight into what the underwriting department is looking for. If you, as a potential buyer, know this up front then we will have a very smooth transaction:

•DO NOT open new bank accounts and do not transfer monies back and forth among your accounts without consulting your mortgage advisor. The underwriting department needs to verify that the funds for closing belong to you. If you are transferring monies around and opening new accounts this unnecessarily complicates the process and requires far more paperwork than is really needed. Also, when you open new bank accounts it is common for those institutions to pull your credit report which could drop your credit scores.

•DO NOT apply for new credit. Sure you can apply for a mortgage, but this is not the time to open a new credit card, apply for a new car loan, or take advantage of a 10% discount promotion if you open a new department store card, etc. Do not open a new account by transferring one balance to another card to get 0% approval for 12 months or any other special deal that you come across. Sometimes people don’t realize that the amount they are transferring is equal to the new limit and, as a result, this will hamper your credit score. If an inquiry shows up on your credit report and was a result of new credit then we have to obtain the new account information and possibly rerun your credit report. Also, 8 days before funding lenders have to pull a new “no score credit report” and if there are any new inquiries, new accounts, or higher balances then it could cause an issue and/or delay your transaction.

•Generally, DO NOT deposit non-payroll monies into your bank accounts. Again, underwriting needs to verify that the funds for closing (and post-closing reserves possibly needed) are actually your funds. If there are any non-payroll deposits, you will be asked to source those deposits. AVOID CASH DEPOSITS! If you have money that has been sitting around or a friend/relative is repaying you on an old debt this is not the time to deposit it. Please note, however, if monies have been in your account for 60 days or so then those funds are generally considered seasoned and no paper trail would be required. Consult your mortgage advisor for more details.

•DO NOT deposit gift funds without talking to your mortgage advisor. Generally gift funds are acceptable, but there is a paper trailing process that is very specific to follow.

•DO NOT close accounts without consulting your mortgage advisor. This could potentially drop your score.

• DO NOT skip town without letting us know. It is important that if you go on vacation during the process you alert your mortgage advisor up front so they can prepare accordingly and enable you to relax and enjoy your trip.

•DO NOT pay off a credit card or unsecured credit line and then later take a cash advance from that same account for your down payment. Once you make the decision to pay off consumer credit, you cannot access it for your down payment.

•Generally, DO NOT charge significantly on credit cards. Sometimes you might be close to a point where additional credit could affect your credit score. If there is something that should be watched, your mortgage advisor will let you know. It all depends on each individual borrower’s circumstance.

Please let me know if you would like to discuss this or have any general questions. I am here to help!

Kevin A. Schmidt
Partner/Mortgage Banker: MLO 91450
Summit Mortgage Corporation: NMLS 3236
CELL: 503-705-5014
DIRECT: 503-459-0587
kevins@go-summit.com

5 Easy Home Repairs You Should Know How To Do Yourself

DCG — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:35:28 +0000

Every home needs periodic maintenance. For those inexperienced with home repairs, it is oftentimes the little things that cause the most frustration. Calling a plumber or repairperson every time something goes wrong can start to wear out your wallet (and patience) quickly. The internet is a great place to start if you ever have questions, and there are many articles, such as this one, that can help you with these repairs. To help you, we have researched and compiled 5 easy do-it-yourself (DIY) repairs that anyone can do:

1. Reparing a leaky faucet.
Leaky faucets are one of the top problems that face a home owner. Leaks are annoying, and they can also burn a large hole in your wallet and are a huge waste of water. Before you start your repair, be sure to turn off the water to the faucet and figure out which kind of faucet you have. Since we can’t go over how to fix every kind of faucet in this blog, we will go over how to repair a common compression-type faucet washer:

Unscrew the faucet handle and remove it. The screw will likely be concealed in some way, such as under a decorative metal or plastic cap, or at the back of the handle, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t find it right away.
Remove the packing nut. This step requires some basic pliers. Be prepared for a little resistance.
Unscrew the valve stem and remove it from the housing.
Take out the screw that holds the washer in place. If the washer’s been in there a long time, you may need some penetrating oil to loosen the screw.
Remove the washer and examine it. If the washer is still in decent shape, keep it and use it to help you find a replacement. If it fell apart as you took it out, check the valve-body to determine the size of your replacement washer. Also, check the valve seat at the bottom of the valve body to determine whether the washer fits into a space with straight or angled walls.
Fine a replacement washer. Your plumbing or home improvement retailer will have generic washer kits that include dozens of washers in different shapes and sizes, which may be handy for next time!
Rewind the steps. Once you have a new washer, complete the installation by reversing these steps.

2. Unplugging a clogged toilet.
As icky as it is, everyone has to unclog a toilet once and awhile. Generally, it is a momentary stress that is resolved quickly with a plunger, but sometimes you may need to take more drastic measures. There are several ways that you can tackle this sticky situation:

Clear the toilet with a plunger. This will most commonly fix the problem. Flanged plungers are the best, but accordion-style works well too. Be sure that the suction cup is completely covered with water before you start plunging. You could also try plumbing snakes, which are fairly inexpensive and available at home supply stores.
If none of this works, you may have to uninstall the toilet, upend it and remove the clog. This may involve calling a plumber, or a really good friend, as it might be out of your skill and comfort level.

3. Stop a running toilet.
It is pretty common to have a toilet that runs continuously, especially in older houses. Generally, the float mechanism causes the toilet to run. Try lifting the float and see if the water stops running. If it stops, bend the arm of the float so that it’s in a higher position. In some cases, the float may be damaged or holding water. All that means is that you need to unscrew the float and replace it with a new one.

4. Fix the garbage disposal.
If your garbage disposal stops working, there are usually a few easy fixes that you can try yourself before calling a repairperson:

First, press the reset button underneath the disposal. If that does not work, there is likely something lodged in the disposal which means that you will have to remove the object.
To remove a stuck object, make sure that you have the disposal in the off position. Take a broom or plunger handle and stick it in the disposal, turning the blades in a clockwise position. Once the blades have moved, you should be able to find and remove the object.
Once removed, press the reset button and turn on the disposal. If this does not fix your garbage disposal, it may be time to call a professional.

5. Applying caulk.
For those unfamiliar with caulk, it is the rubbery stuff between your tub, shower, or sink and the wall that prevents water damage on the floors and walls. Since caulk can deteriorate over time, it is important that you re-apply it at least every two years:

To start, scrape off any loose or peeling caulk around the area with a putty knife. This part may be a little difficult, and it is very important to completely remove the old caulk residue so the new stuff with stick. You may want to purchase products that will soften the caulk and make it easier to remove.
Treat the area with bleach to remove mold and mildew.
For this next step, you may need to purchase a caulk gun at your home supply store. Once the area is clean and dry, use your caulk gun to re-caulk the area by squeezing the product out of the tube and running it along the seams.
Finally, smooth with a plastic grout tool or your index finger and let it dry.

We hope this helps you with simple repairs in the future. As always, feel free to contact us at any time with questions. Also, don’t forget that the internet has great tutorials online that are a great help. Happy repairing!

Portland Residential Real Estate Report: January 2012

DCG — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:26:03 +0000

This year has started off on a stronger note. We’ve seen improvement in the sales activity in the Portland metro area in both closed and pending sales when comparing this time to that of a year ago. Closed sales saw an 18.3% increase, and the highest numbers for January since 2007. Pending sales increased 22.4% in the same comparison. We also saw Market Time decreasing from 160 to 136 days. There were also 16.5% fewer newly listed residential properties, which has continued the higher absorption we have seen in recent months that has helped to create a much lower listing inventory for this season than seen in the previous two years. At January’s rate of sales, our listings would be exhausted in only 7.0 months as compared to last January when we had 11.3 months, and January 2010 when we had 12.6 months. This inventory level is strengthening the pricing we are seeing in certain neighborhoods and we are seeing multiple offers more and more for properties that are priced well. Many are suggesting that we are at the bottom, but it will take a few more months to really pinpoint a trend.

We are seeing a great deal more activity in the area of investors as well. This trend in conjunction with the low interest rates, low inventory, and rising rents is creating even more strength in the area of the multifamily sector. Multiple offers are also picking up in this category when properties are priced correctly and returns look stronger than what investors are finding elsewhere. 2012 is shaping up to be an interesting year in real estate.

January Residential Highlights
The year has started off on a positive note. Sales activity in the Portland metro area continued to show improvement in closed and pending sales when comparing this January to the same month a year ago. Closed sales experienced a 18.3% increase, posting the highest numbers for January since 2007. Pending sales saw growth of 22.4% in the same comparison. Market time also improved, decreasing from 160 to 136 days.

There were 16.5% fewer newly listed residential properties. The combination of higher sales and fewer new listings helped to create a much lower listing inventory for this season than seen in the previous two years. At January’s rate of sales, the active listing count of 8,514 would be exhausted in only 7.0 months. (See chart to the right.)

Comparing month-to-previous month, closed sales fell 24.1% (1,612 v. 1,224) when compared to December 2011, pending sales increased 26.3% (1,443 v. 1,823) and new listings climbed 53.7% (1,700 v. 2,613).

Sale Prices
The average sale price of $249,100 for January 2012 was virtually the same as the $248,900 posted in January 2011, while the median declined 3.5%.

Compared to December 2011, the average price fell 4.5% ($260,800 v. $249,100) and the median fell 4.2% ($216,600 v. $207,500).

Over the rolling twelve month calculation shown to the right, which compares February 2010-January 2011 with February 2011-January 2012, the median price dropped 6.9% and the average price declined 6.1%.

For a copy of the full January report, A Publication of RMLS^™ you can download

Here