September Is National Preparedness Month
Daily Real Estate News | September 6, 2006
— REALTOR® Magazine Online


The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is joining with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to launch National Preparedness Month 2006 this September.


National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort that encourages Americans to prepare for emergencies of all kinds. A special Web site, www.ready.gov, has been created to share helpful and important information.


“We believe in the importance of educating individuals on the potential life saving steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of families in the event of a natural disaster or potential terrorist threat,” says Thomas M. Stevens, president of NAR.


NAR is using its vast network of members and home owners to help communicate the importance of preparedness — including having a family plan and having an emergency supply kit ready and on hand. “REALTORS® are a strong voice for communicating the importance of being prepared in case of natural disasters,” Stevens says.


In addition to joining the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts, NAR has created a disaster planning task force made up of REALTORS® from all across the country. NAR will hold a natural disaster symposium in Washington on Sept. 18, when participants will discuss the need for a federal natural disaster insurance program and the need to be ready for such disasters.


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Nielsen: Internet Ad Spent up 49%
September 05, 2006
By Roger Park


Nielsen Media Research announced that ad spending in the U.S. is up 5.1 percent in the half of the year with internet leading the way with 49 percent.


Spanish language TV was up 21.8 percent due largely to the World Cup. Other media that showed gain were local magazines (10.4 percent) and nation newspapers (6.5 percent).


Spending among the top 10 advertisers grew 3 percent to nearly $9.8 billion; AT&T, due to a re-branding of the company, increased its spending by 51 percent, according to Mediaweek.


"Ad spending continues to build in strength when compared to last year, although not at the levels projected by many at the beginning of the year," says Jeff King, managing director of Nielsen Monitor-Plus.


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5 Tips for Branding with Ad Networks
August 29, 2006
By David A. Yovanno


Introduction - For advertisers trying to build awareness and drive other brand-related initiatives, ad networks offer a valuable complement to portal and single site strategies. Today's leading ad networks offer comparable and complementary audience composition, reach and frequency, with stringent quality controls and the ability to demonstrate measurable lift in key brand metrics.


The key to successfully working with ad networks is to select a partner you can trust to protect your brand online and to form a close working relationship that takes advantage of their account management expertise and their technology, media planning, targeting and creative capabilities. The end result will be a measurable impact in the efficiency of your overall online brand marketing objectives.


Here's how to do it.
. Understand the type of networks
. Three brand strategies
. Mix rich media and video
. Pre-test creative
. Measure brand impact
. Conclusion


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NAR: Existing-Home Sales Down, Prices Soften
Daily Real Estate News | August 23, 2006
— REALTOR® Magazine Online


Existing-home sales were down in July, while home prices in many areas are slightly below year-ago levels, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.


Total existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – dropped 4.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 6.33 million units in July from a downwardly revised pace of 6.60 million June, and were 11.2 percent below the 7.13 million-unit level in July 2005.


“Many potential home buyers have been on the sidelines, some ‘kicking the tires,’ but mostly waiting for sellers to compromise on prices and terms,” he says. “Now sellers in many areas of the country are pricing to reflect current market realities. As a result, there could be some lift to home sales, but it’ll likely take some months for price appreciation to rise.”


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Affordable Ways to Make a Home Sparkle
Daily Real Estate News | August 21, 2006
Source: Universal Press Syndicate, Michael Walsh (08/20/2006)


A home seller doesn’t have to spend a fortune on redecorating in order to impress buyers. But it does take a little creativity and a clear understanding of the main goal: to remove personal clutter and make everything else shine.


Here are a few simple (and affordable) suggestions for making a home more impressive to potential buyers:


Outside: Spread fresh mulch on the flowerbeds; paint the front door; and buy a new "welcome" mat.


The mudroom: Get rid of the litter box and the pet food bowls; put cleaning supplies out of sight; and hang coats in the closet, not on hooks.


The bathroom: Hide personal items such as athlete’s foot powder or laxatives; put toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet; buy a new shower curtain.

The closets: Ruthlessly thin out clothes and shoes; hang what’s left on matching hangars; and replace the light bulbs with 100 watts.


The kitchen: Get rid of all but the basics in the cupboards and clean everything off the counters.


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