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Super Bowl LXVI

Richard — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:19:38 +0000

It seems surreal that game day is upon us. The dream began several years ago, when Indy made an unsuccessful bid to get the Super Bowl here, then finally being selected on the next try for the 2012 game, which at the time seemed awfully remote, two years away. We all watched the number click down one at a time, the countdown of “Days To Go Until The Super Bowl” reached 365, then 180, then 60, then starting to feel very real the closer it came. The effort, planning and energy that went into this from the entire community was truly amazing, and in the end, luck smiled on us, as better weather than anyone had dreamed would be possible for this time of year lasted the entire 10 days of Super Bowl events, saving a warm, sunny day for game day itself. Indy turned over the key to the city for a few days to the rest of the country and the world. It became Super Bowl Village instead of Indianapolis. A cameo under the spotlights on the big stage. The best thing was a lot of folks unfamiliar with Indianapolis were able to experience our warm hospitality and the results of what took more than a generation of effort to evolve the downtown area into what is there today. Well done everyone.

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Super Bowl Party

Richard — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:37:31 +0000

Monument Circle has witnessed all different types of gatherings in the more than 150 years that it’s been the geographic and symbolic center our community, and now the start of it’s first ever Super Bowl party last night. The downtown area around and in-between the Circle and Georgia Street was wall-to-wall with thousands of people of every age and description, out to take in the sights, sounds and activities. With all the things to do there, you could come every day next week before the game on Feb. 5th, and experience something different each time. Event Calendar

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Open House Marketing

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:42:02 +0000

Marketing a property is sort of like fishing. One line in the water is good, but ten is even better. You increase the probability of success by the number and quality of ways that the public and their agents can encounter the property. A huge part is Internet exposure on multiple websites so people can find them with search engines. But also good ‘ol direct mail to areas where a likely move-up prospect resides now, or getting the word out to fellow agents within the company and other companies can work. Just the sign in the front yard or the brochure box there can sometimes lure in a prospect. Another facet of marketing is Open Houses. It’s not one of the most important parts, but it definitely can increase exposure which is always a good thing. Some homes lend themselves better to Open Houses than others. For instance, in a VERY expensive neighborhood, you might not get a lot of of real prospects there, just people who want to look at the cool house. Something not too much lower or too much higher than the average price in our market probably works the best, i.e. the deepest water if you are fishing. But that doesn’t mean it won’t work for other price points. For homes off the beaten path with very little drive-by exposure, the probability is lower for attendance. The best would be a home in a neighborhood with higher than average demand and sales activity historically. One with good drive-by exposure for your main Open House sign on a well-traveled street. A home that’s easy to navigate to from a main road is best vs. one all the way at the back of a subdivision with eight turns and eight signs to follow in order to find it. I always advertise the Open House up to a week in advance on our public website for people searching for Open Houses. More people are finding them that way than before, but still, the Open House sign is by far the most common way that people find it. I enjoy hosting open houses. It’s fun to talk to people, and you never know for sure what will happen unless you try.

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Downtown Transformation

Richard — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:00:55 +0000

The Circle always is an impressive landmark, but it’s taking on a magical look these days especially. Only a few more days until the NFL transforms the downtown area as we know it. It’s coming.

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Setting the Table

Richard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:40:49 +0000

The last few years the market has been in a word…slower. Not awful as the media driven consciousness seems to think, just slower than normal. In America, we’re used to everything being terrific, perfect, always improving. So when it’s not any of those, somehow that’s interpreted to mean it’s awful? I don’t think so, but it feels like there are a lot unfortunately who do. The media is a huge part of the problem. No actually it is most of the problem, driving home the message constantly, relentlessly until it becomes reality. But, that can only go on so long. There is always a consistent percentage of people that want to move or sell their home. But the market in the last few years has changed that. So, most people patiently wait for better days. Luckily the media has gotten tired of bashing the economy it seems…on to different stories. It’s no coincidence that the market and the economy then is improving. But in the meantime, the table has been set. The feast is getting ready to happen. All of the pent up demand from the last few years is getting ready to be released. It’s just a natural progression.

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Market Watch – January 2012 edition

Richard — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:16:55 +0000

January is always an interesting point in time. The end of one year and the beginning of the next. A look back at last month and last year’s residential activity for the nine county central Indiana area reveals a market that’s keeps improving in all the right ways. The amount of inventory on the market has been reduced dramatically from high levels seen in 2008-2009 when an oversupply of homes for sale caused downward pressure on prices. Since then, a slow but steady reduction of inventory occurred, and average prices have been rising.

For greater perspective on the residential market for last month, take a look at my latest Market Watch Newsletter, with more in-depth analysis, real numbers, charts and graphs.

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Building in Winter

Richard — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:27:04 +0000

The winter weather doesn’t phase the progress on new home construction very much around here. It takes a little coordination so that the foundation work is done prior to or after the coldest weather. But there are usually enough good weather days afterwards to frame the home, get it under roof and finish the exterior work all through the winter months. This home in west Carmel that I previewed with clients today is just now completing the drywall stage. Portable gas heaters were keeping the temperature toasty inside to dry the water from the just finished drywall. All the interior finishes and fixturing can be done in even the coldest weather. This home should be completed by the end of next month.

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Indy’s Tropical Destination

Richard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:03:51 +0000

Looking for someplace to chase away this latest winter blast? White River Gardens might be the ticket. The Hilbert Conservatory is in tropical mode through Labor Day this year with the current exhibit OMG! Orchids with many varieties of colorful orchids, tropical plants and water features. Exploring a rain forest…Sounds good doesn’t it?

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Classy Parking

Richard — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:17:38 +0000

I thought the design and build on this one-car garage in the Lockerbie area was one of the best I’ve seen, matching the architecture and charm of the original home. The hardwood doors look like they are from a turn-of-the-century home’s front entrance. But of course it’s the garage door with horizontal panels that fold like a standard overhead door. The lines of each section fit so well against each other that they are nearly invisible. The shed roof adds nice detail and functionality keeping the weather away from opening. Elegant in it’s simplicity.

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Devour Downtown – Winterfest 2012

Richard — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:40:08 +0000

A heads-up on a really great event here in Indianapolis that begins tomorrow. Devour Downtown’s Winterfest 2012 runs from January 9th through the 22nd. It’s an opportunity to try one or several of the participating 56 downtown area restaurants that you have always wanted to go to…offering some of their favorite menu items at special reduced pricing. Here’s the list of restaurants with links to their menu offerings.

It’s the perfect antidote for cold weather cabin fever and the short winter days and long nights this time of year.

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