5 Ways to use an iPad in Real Estate

By: Barbara Lipkin

Having become a user and fan of the iPad, and with all the publicity surrounding the release of the new iPad, I have been looking for more uses for my iPad.  Other than checking my email, looking up information in Wikipedia, and playing games, I have begun using my iPad for listing presentations. I have found the following ideas for additional usage:

1.  Travel light with it.  Instead of taking a laptop, I can use it to check email, make Skype calls, and have access to my online documents and programs.
2.  Tackle my business tasks. I can prepare documents,organize my notes, and tasks to do.  I have found 2 apps worthwhile- catch.com and taskerlite.
3.  I have been using and will continue using my iPad for customer presentations.  This morning, a client of mine made a presentation to me on his new company.  It is a sexy way to make a presentation – very modern, hip, and yet professional.
4.  Accessorize your iPad from the case to the apps that work for you.  Many are free, and those that are not, are generally inexpensive.
5.  Beware of spending all your time on games.  I love solitaire, but other than a momentary break, I prefer to catch up on the news or read a book.

Have fun with your iPad.

Original article as follows:

Make it your mobile companion.

The iPad can take mobile entrepreneurs one step closer to a laptop-free existence. The small size — the iPad 2 is even slimmer than its predecessor — instant-on feature and long battery life make it easier to deal with than a bulky laptop. “It allows me to travel light on one- or two-day trips where I don’t expect to have any text-intensive tasks. Moreover, instant access to my cloud for information and data allows me to walk into meetings paperless, but perfectly prepared,” Sinclair says. He uses the Shareplus app to stay in touch with his Microsoft Sharepoint files. “It gives me access to every client database including all tasks, communications, contacts and, most importantly, all files that relate to the client,” Sinclair says. That makes the iPad a good fit for businesses that have already migrated data online for easy mobile access. The iPad 2′s cameras and FaceTime app make videoconferencing over Wi-Fi a compelling possibility for on-the-go entrepreneurs.

2. Tackle your business tasks.

Before you spend between hundreds on an iPad, determine what you want to be able to do with it. “For light tasks, it’s perfect, for writing detailed documents or software intensive programs, it makes no sense,” Sinclair says. You might not want to compose a novel on it or crunch a huge database, but you can easily handle jobs such as editing word-processing documents using the very capable Pages app or organizing notes and ideas with Evernote. The costs of the apps themselves are very reasonable. “Show me an expensive Windows application and I’ll show you an inexpensive alternative in the Apple App Store,” Ayoub says.

3. Hand it off to customers.

Image may not actually be everything, but it means a lot. Businesses that want to project a forward-thinking, cutting-edge persona are adopting iPads as tools for customers. That can range from using the iPad as a wine list in a restaurant to offering branded iPad apps that show off retail wares. “Any company using this latest tool is going to appear current, relevant and clever — all good things in a competitive environment. It helps that Apple has heavily marketed and publicized the iPad. Nearly everyone knows what it is when they see it,” Ayoub says. Sinclair has seen a lot of iPad interest from businesses in the hospitality sector. Restaurants have been quick to pick up on the device as a way to deliver menus, expand ordering capabilities and give customers more information about food and beverages.

4. Accessorize for your needs.

The Apple-related accessory market is in high gear. (See our story on the iPad boom for accessory makers.) That means you can find all sorts of add-ons to customize your iPad for your business. For those of you who don’t want to give up on the laptop experience, check out an external keyboard like the Apple iPad Keyboard dock or the Apple Wireless Keyboard. Either one costs about $70. Mobile sales professionals can share the love with a dock connector to VGA adapter for making presentations. Along with the iPad 2, Apple unveiled an HDMI video out adapter cable for greater flexibility when presenting.

Of course, apps are still the ultimate business accessories. Enjoy all your iPhone favorites on the comfort of a larger screen or take advantage of iPad optimized apps like PrintCentral for printing and Instapaper for saving and reading Web pages. “If the iPad doesn’t fit your business needs out of the box, either you or someone in your respective industry is sure to create an app that will make it fit,” Ayoub says. (Check out more enticing iPad accessories in our previous article about pimping your iPad.)

5. Don’t get too distracted.

It may be tempting to take down a few zombies or fight your way through a dungeon in your down time, but beware of getting sidetracked by entertainment apps. “Don’t download Angry Birds,” Sinclair says. “Understand what tasks and purposes the iPad is supposed to solve.” He initially had to concentrate his thinking around the iPad from shiny new toy to serious business tool. He stays focused by exploring business apps and looking for ways to match the iPad with the needs of his clients. Stock up on the apps that help make your business run and keep your productivity intact. Keep the games to a minimum.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Barbara Lipkin

Everyone has been hearing about foreclosures for years now. We have even heard about how the banks have been forced to start the process over after they used companies that rubber stamped the documents. This is even better – go on vacation and lose your house to foreclosure, even if you haven’t defaulted.

So here’s the story, an 82 year old retired Floridian went out of town for a few weeks and came back to an empty house. No furniture, no clothes, not even trash. He found a padlocked door and a sign for a company that cleans out properties in foreclosure. Interestingly enough, Benito Santiago Sr.’s home wasn’t in foreclosure according to public records. So what happened?

Well, Bank Of America, known for their mass-manufacture of foreclosure errors, sent a crew to a condo at 4255 W. Humphrey St in Hillsborough County, Florida. The crew ended up going to Santiago’s home by mistake. Something about Santiago’s mailbox really confused them. On one side, the mailbox displayed the number “4205.” But on the other side, the “0″ was missing.

The land formerly known as “4255 W Humphrey St.” does not exist in Hillsborough County Property Appraiser records. Santiago’s property is surrounded on three sides by Grand Reserve, a condominium complex that once used that address. Others have arrived in error to 4205.

To read more go to: foreclosure – huffingtonpost.com

PLUM Meeting Gets Ugly

By: Barbara Lipkin

Westfield’s John Alderson’s, “I don’t want to come here anymore.”

Costco is building at the intersection of Topanga, Victory & Owensmouth.  The plan for the area had been for retail, office & housing- a village.  Westfield owns the property.  The big objection, as I understand it, is that there will be a blank warehouse wall facing Victory. The site is not being used as expected or as it should be. When Costco built in Westlake Village, there were objections but they ended up building a suitable Spanish style set off from the street. Costco & Westfield’s attitudes on this project seems to be different-they do not want to hear from the residents or listen to suggestions. Although Councilman Dennis Zine, says the project will be jobs from construction through completion & operating. However, the issue is:
1.  This was not what was proposed.
2.  The architectural result will be an imposing big box with no redeeming value.

In addition, there is a concern that the nearby Canoga Park Costco store will close after a while, leading to a net loss on job creation.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Hot new denim hitting the Calabasas Courtyard

By: Barbara Lipkin

Studio City-based denim store Dungarees will soon open for business inside the Courtyard at the Commons, according to the shopping center’s web site. Dungarees is an active wear boutique that specializes in denim for men and women. The store should be opening inside the Courtyard at the Commons before Christmas.

Dungarees was at the forefront of the denim revolution/explosion, as activewear played an important part of the 90′s California lifestyle, with jeans being an essential part of your everyday wardrobe. Jeans were, and still are, an essential fashion staple of the entertainment industry (television, film, and music), and right from its opening Dungarees was quickly working with many of the studios and celebrities.

Dungarees is a leader in introducing new denim brands while continuing to carry brands that are considered a staple. When Dungarees opened in the 90′s, they introduced their customers to many European denim lines from Italy, France, London and Switzerland, which included such brands as Diesel, Replay, Big Star, and Aviatic.

Dungarees still carries several European denim brands, but with the recent shift of denim manufacturing in Los Angeles, most of the lines they carry are from here. The Studio City location is used for such television shows as MTV’s “Punk’d”, HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, and “90210”; plus Dungarees works with the studios and supplies clothes for many television shows and feature films. Dungarees has been part of the fabric of the Los Angeles community since 1991.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

What not to do as a real estate agent!

By: Barbara Lipkin

A newby real estate agent, licensed for about two weeks, is in trouble in New Zealand because he was apparently too eager to get a listing.  He was fined the equivalent of $1100 by real estate licensing officials & ordered to extend an ethics course after he had put his own “for sale” sign directly in front of the owners “for sale by owner sign.” The family whose home is in Otaki near Wellington filed a complaint. They do not live on the property and thought it odd that they stopped get phone calls about the house. The then found the agent’s sign in the yard. The agent thought the homeowners had agreed to list with him but they neglected to sign the listing agreement.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Another side effect of the depressed housing market

By: Barbara Lipkin

A lifelong criminal was ordered by an English court to sell his home to repay about $79,000 to his victims. He asked for an extension because the housing market has dropped so much he couldn’t sell his home for his judgment. He said his Manchester home had been worth about $151,000 a few years ago, but since he has tried selling his house, the offers have been for around $63,000. The judge gave him an extra 3 months and cut the judgment to $60,000 believing the real estate market may improve.”

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Peng Wenle Rescued

By: Barbra Lipkin

We are all aware of Facebook, Twitter, Linked & other sites.  Recently, they have come into play in dramatic ways. The Egyptian situation was begun by a Google executive and others using social networking. Recently, I came across an article regarding the use of microblogs in finding abducted children. In movies and on television, we have seen story lines where boy children have been kidnapped from their parents in China. With China still basically a one child society, this has dramatic repercussions. To lose a child is horrible. To make matters worse, it may not be possible to have another child. In March 2008, 3 year old Peng Wenle vanished into the night from outside the family’s small shop. The perpetrator was not able to be identified due to the grainy images and lack of clues.  An all-out campaign by Chinese microbloggers to circulate photographs of abducted children has led to the boy’s reunions with his family. A university student who has seen an Internet posting by the child’s father on sina.com which hosts a Chinese version of Twitter, thought the missing child looked a lot like a 66-year old boy he has seen in a village about 800 miles away. He em-mailed a photograph of the boy to the father who recognized the child as his son. DNA tests have confirmed the relationship.

Child abduction is a scourge for China’s poor. Thousands have disappeared with boys being the most common. They are sold for as much as $10,000 to families that are childless or without sons. What an amazing way to use social networking and microblogs. They have made it far easier to find children because of the speed with which information can be conveyed.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Courtesy of Sharon Watterson

By: Barbara Lipkin

As many of you know, I enjoy knitting as a hobby-making gifts for babies especially my granddaughter, Emma, and for charity. This article impressed me. A dear friend grew up in England. Knitting was part of their curriculum. What a valuable addition this would be to our curriculum! There would be many who would volunteer their time in the schools if this were an option. Check it out below:

http://www.examiner.com/knitting-in-providence/knitting-inspires-learning-throughout-curriculum

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Don’t let potholes in Calabasas go unnoticed

By: Barbara Lipkin

“Ever ruined a tire on a pothole?  Reporting a pothole in Los Angeles by calling 311 is easy but not always successful. You get to hear Mayor Villaraigosa’s voice but then you are on hold for at least 10 minutes. Now you can report a pothole in Calabasas. Go to the Calabasas city website http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/pwrequest.html and fill out the report. It’s much more efficient than the city of Los Angeles.”

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Barbara Lipkin

With the emphasis on saving money and protecting the economy, I am always on the lookout for new uses for old products.  I came across some secret uses for vinegar.  I have not tried them yet, but I thought they were of interest to share.  They are:

• Spray full strength on weeds until they starve.
• Clean pots with white vinegar before re-potting to remove excess lime.
• Remove skunk odor from a dog by rubbing his fur with full strength vinegar. Don’t forget to rinse.
• Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting by dousing the area with vinegar.
• Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites.
• Use white vinegar to rinse your hair to remove residue and leaves it shiny.
• Make clothes smell fresh by adding vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener.
• Immerse T-shirts in white vinegar to get rid of the yellow armpit stains (that is yucky).
• Clean your irons and steam irons with vinegar to avoid build up.
• Clean china with vinegar to remove coffee & tea stains.
• Deodorize the following: kitchen drain & sink, smelly lunch box
• Add a couple of tablespoons to a bowl and leave it on the kitchen counter. Supposed to get rid of food odors such as fish.
• Clean the microwave by boiling a 1/4 cup of vinegar to loosen splattered food. Afterward use a cloth to wipe the microwave clean.
• Kill germs in the bathroom by wiping down fixtures with a rag damp with vinegar.
• Clean soap scum, mildew and grime from the bathtub, tile and curtains by wiping down with vinegar and rinsing with water.
• Clean your glasses by using a drop of vinegar and a lint-free cloth ( I liked this one-I can never find my eyeglass spray.  .
• Instead of using toner in your beauty routine, use vinegar to clean your face (seems sour).
• Relieve a sore throat by gargling with vinegar.
• Have itchy feet? Immerse your feet in vinegar to fight athlete’s foot.
• Toenails turning yellow? Fight nail fungus by saturating your nails with vinegar. Apparently, tea tree oil also helps.
• Eliminate animal urine stains and odor from carpet by wiping it clean with an old rag and vinegar.
• Unclog a shower head by immersing in vinegar.
• Remove decals, bumper stickers, or price tag by wiping down with vinegar. Alcohol also helps.
• Spray vinegar around doors and window frames, under appliances and along other known ant trails to repeal them.
• Add to water and food coloring to make dyed eggs even brighter.
• Rid your toilet bowl of rusty rings with a diluted vinegar solution.
• Rub on windows with newspaper or cloth to get a clearer view.
• Kill mold with vinegar instead of bleach ( I wonder if they mean mildew).
• Combine with lemons and baking soda for an all purpose cleaner.
• Mix with salt to form a paste. Apply to remove discoloration from copper-bottomed pots and pans. Let sit, then scrub with steel-wool.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.