It’s bike month in the Sacramento area and I’m excited to get to ride to an appraisal inspection today for a total of 20 miles. Since the property is fairly close to the Sacramento River anyway, I’ll get to enjoy some of the trails in Rancho Cordova and then exit Hazel Avenue into Fair Oaks. This year I’ve pledged to ride 100 miles during May, which should be fun, but I’m even more excited that my boys are doing it with me. My 8-year-old will be riding 33 miles and my 6-year-old will be riding 16 miles.
Speaking of bikes, I’m also riding in the Project 680 Underwear Ride on May 19 to help raise awareness for student homelessness and gather new underwear for homeless students. This will be a 26-mile ride (roundtrip). Project 680 is close to my heart and a cause I pour my heart and time into. Would anyone like to ride with me? I hear Keith Klassen is coming.
Have you pledged to ride for bike month?
If you have any questions or Sacramento area real estate appraisal or property tax appeal needs, contact me by phone 916-595-3735, email, Twitter, subscribe to posts by email or “like” my page on Facebook
I’ll be sitting on a panel at an upcoming event called “Social Media and the Future of Real Estate”. I’d love for you to come check it out on May 8 at 
Definition: A “parcel mullet” refers to the phenomenon of having a well manicured short lawn in the front yard, but a wild long yard in the back. Or in laymen’s terms, business lawn in front, party lawn in the back. If you didn’t know, the mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back (Wikipedia).
Origin of Word: This word came about during a conversation on Twitter with 
Neat & Tidy Lawn: In all seriousness, having a well-manicured lawn does make a difference with how buyers, passersby and community members might perceive a household or even a neighborhood if front lawns are perpetually overgrown. As I wrote about in 
Overview of FHA Property Standards: Since FHA has been so dominant in the market, it’s important to understand the nuts and bolts of what appraisers look for during an FHA appraisal inspection. What does it take for a property to meet FHA minimum requirements? This class will help when listing and marketing a property as well as communicating with loan officers too. See my 
How to Challenge a “Low” Appraisal: Have you had a bad appraisal on one of your deals? What can you do when an appraisal comes in lower than it should? This class goes through a specific format to help you prepare a solid reconsideration of value. We’ll discuss fundamentals about reviewing an appraisal report (what to look for) and specific ways to challenge a low appraisal. Bring your laptop if you have one since we’ll be looking at a Word document together (you’re fine without one too).
Effective Blogging for Real Estate: Real estate blogging has been a big part of my business and it’s something I enjoy doing too. Blogging is an opportunity to share knowledge, build relationships and connect with existing and potential customers. If done right, a blog can help build credibility and expertise for your real estate business as well as serve as a place where potential clients can feel you out before deciding to do give you a call. This class is full of tips, how-tos and gives a framework for creating original content too. Check out “
How to Make Solid Real Estate Videos: Video is a very powerful tool for sharing information and connecting with clients. A good video can help build trust and convey professionalism for your brand, but a bad video can accomplish the opposite. This class will be very practical as we discuss how to create videos that help you stand out (in a good way). We’ll actually edit a video in class so agents can have hands-on experience knowing what to do. I create videos regularly for clients, 
Introduction to Appraising: This class is great for new agents, lawyers or loan officers to help get them up to speed on the appraisal process. We will look at a common appraisal form to get a good grasp of what an appraiser looks for and how an appraiser does his job. We’ll also discuss practical tips for interacting with appraisers (things to say and not say). While a class of 10 or more is usually preferred, lower numbers are more understandable for an introduction like this.