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REALTOR® Carolyn Capalbo Works to Overcome Name Confusion

July 28, 2010 By

Many have heard of Carolyn Capalbo. But, much to the chagrin of REALTOR® Carolyn Capalbo, the lady that springs to mind when hearing the name is not her. In fact, if one were to perform a Google search of the name Carolyn Capalbo®, they are likely to find numerous photos of a bikini-clad woman as well as numerous unscrupulous news articles. Why? Because REALTOR® Carolyn Capalbo shares her name with the mother of Ashley Dupre, who was the “escort” at the center of the Eliot Spitzer scandal.

Unfortunately for REALTOR® Carolyn Capalbo, the scandal has left a lasting impact on her and her career. Although the other Carolyn Capalbo was only the mother of the woman at the center of the scandal, she still managed to grab headlines and to have her name included in numerous articles about the scandal. Since many of these articles and the accompanying photos were posted to the Internet, they have remained online for several months. The result? Any potential client who performs an Internet search of the name “Carolyn Capalbo” are still greeted with unflattering photos and news articles that are certain to leave a negative impression.

Although Carolyn Capalbo the REALTOR cannot be sure of the impact this mix-up may have had on her business, there is no doubt that it has caused a great deal of confusion in her personal and professional life.

“The initial burst of phone calls surprised me,” said Carolyn Capalbo the REALTOR® in an interview with Real Estate Industry Watch. “Reporters were calling me directly looking for information regarding Ashley. Reporters were also contacting my Broker’s office looking for information. My own buyer’s agents asked me if I had another child from a previous relationship. My children were also questioned at school if they had an older sister or half sister.”

Fortunately, Carolyn Capalbo is part of a close family that has been able to weather the scandal nicely. Married for twenty years, Capalbo and her husband are the proud parents of triplets. Once a stay-at-home-mom, Carolyn Capalbo waited to start her career until after her husband retired from the Army. After enjoying significant success during her first year in the business, Capalbo knew real estate was her calling. Although she has a long road ahead of her in terms of cleaning up her name, Carolyn Capalbo the REALTOR® is certain to continue to enjoy the same success in the years to come as well.

Filed Under: Denver Real Estate Tagged With:

Using Video to Sell Your Denver Home

July 24, 2010 By

As real estate agents look for more innovative ways to market the homes they are trying to sell, it should come as no surprise that an increasing number are choosing to create videos of the homes they are handling. After all, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video must be worth a million! But, is creating a video of your home the right marketing strategy for you? And, if so, how do you go about shooting a successful home marketing video?

According to most industry experts, creating a video of the property for sale is appropriate with nearly every listing. Even those properties that are lacking curb appeal can benefit from a video, as the videographer can shoot the video in such a way to draw attention to the most positive aspects of the property. In fact, the only properties that really won’t benefit from a video presentation are those that are expected to move quickly without the help of extensive marketing.

While you might thing that producing a professional video is too costly, the reality is that the process is less expensive than most people think. Compared to traditional marketing media, such as producing television and radio ads, creating print materials and utilizing billboards and benches, shooting a professional video and posting it to the Internet is far more affordable and can fit within virtually any marketing budget.

Of course, in order to enjoy the benefits of using a video as marketing strategy, you need to know what characterizes a good Web video. In short, a Web video needs to focus on three primary areas:

  • Providing an authentic presentation
  • Delivering an interesting and compelling message
  • Presenting a quality production that is enjoyable to watch

As with any ad campaign, your Web video also needs to encourage the viewer to take action. Clearly, your goal is to get the viewer to contact you for more information or to set up a viewing of the home. As such, your video needs to show the viewer enough to generate interest while also answering the key questions the potential buyer might have. At the same time, a video that is clearly nothing more than a sales pitch is going to turn off potential buyers. After all, when it comes to Web video, the viewer has no incentive to watch the entire video unless he or she is truly interested in learning more about what the home has to offer.

Once you have mastered the art of producing compelling Web videos, the distribution opportunities are virtually endless. While YouTube is an obvious option for posting your video, you can also place your videos on other social media Websites such as Facebook. You can even put your videos on your real estate Website or you can send them via email to potential buyers.

The bottom line is that a large number of potential buyers are now starting their property searches on the Internet. By providing them with as much Web-based information as possible, you will be certain to generate more leads and to satisfy the needs of a broader range of interested buyers.

About the Author: John Allen is a Sarasota real estate agent specializing in Downtown Sarasota condos and other fine residential properties. For more information, visit his award-winning website http://www.buysarasota.com

Filed Under: Denver Real Estate Tagged With: , , ,

FOX31 KDVR Launches Cherry Creek & Washington Park Websites for Denver

July 23, 2010 By

FOX31 KDVR has announced the launch of its new series of Websites, each of which is dedicated to providing news and information that is specific to each of Denver’s neighborhoods. To access neighborhood information, KVDR.com site visitors need only to select the neighborhood of interest after clicking “Change” on the right side of the Website’s homepage.

“Our viewers have so many options for general Colorado news that we believe there’s a strong desire for a more localized news experience online,” said Marc Sternfield, who is the Senior Web Producer for FOX31. “We’re starting with 17 major neighborhoods today, but we plan to add a lot more.”

In addition to containing links to neighborhood-related KDVR articles, the sites also allow viewers to serve as “Community Journalists” by submitting news tips, articles and ideas for stories.

“We know there are plenty of aspiring journalists, students and members of the community who want to share local information and get published. We thing this is the perfect place for that,” said Sternfield.

On the Washington Park neighborhood site, for example, visitors can read a variety of stories that have been submitted by KDVR staff as well as those submitted by site visitors covering topics ranging from celebrating the Brazilian culture through the Caporales/Saya Worldwide Event to coverage of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

On the Cherry Creek /Glendale site, on the other hand, site visitors can read about everything from stories about local military personnel who have passed away to heartwarming stories about lost pets who have turned up safely. In other words, the sites allow visitors to remain up-to-date about the hard hitting news stories as well as lifestyle stories and other topics of interest.

Those who are interested in submitting an article or becoming a Community Journalist can simply click on the “Contact Us” button and then complete the form provided. Businesses that are interested in advertising on the sites, on the other hand, can contact Account Executive, Pam Singer, at 866-510-3583.

The Home Cart Team with Brokers Guild – Cherry Creek Ltd are Featured Agents and proudly feature their Denver area listings on these two new websites.  They invite you to visit their Denver real estate website or contact them today at 303-482-2344 or 888-675-4516.

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: , ,

Cherry Creek North Kicks Off Annual Sidewalk Sale

July 22, 2010 By

The much anticipated annual Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale kicked off today and will continue to run through Sunday, July 25th. Every year since the event first started to take place 40 years ago, the Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale has had something special to offer to those in attendants. But, according to organizers, this year’s event is poised to be the biggest and most exciting sale to date.

So, what is so special about the 2010 Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale? First of all, Cherry Creek North is in the middle of a magnificent street renovation project that is expected to leave the district even more accessible and beautiful than it was before. Better yet, the renovation is expected to make the district easier to navigate, making it even easier for residents as well as those who are not from Cherry Creek North to find their way through all of the great sales and opportunities the event has to offer.

Of course, the hundreds of galleries, shops, businesses and restaurants available in the Cherry Creek North area have long made the district a popular destination among visitors as well as those looking for a great place to live. Not only are these businesses open during the Sidewalk Sale, but many are using the annual event to reward their faithful shoppers with unique offerings that are only available this weekend.

As an added bonus, shoppers who visit www.cherrycreeknorth.com and register for the Cherry Creek North newsletter will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree. In addition, all who register for the newsletter will receive special discounts and other offers through future direct mail promotions. Not to mention, signing up for the newsletter provides Cherry Creek North patrons with the opportunity to become “insiders” as they remain on top of the district’s latest business developments and promotions.

This year’s Sidewalk Sale is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Those interested in checking out the sales should visit 1st, 2nd and 3rd Avenues as well as the University to Steele area. They can also visit www.cherrycreeknorth.com in order to obtain an up-to-date list of those stores that are participating in this year’s annual Cherry Creek North Sidewalk Sale. Don’t forget to register for the newsletter in order to be entered into the $1,000 shopping spree raffle while visiting the site!

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With:

Cherry Creek Officials Moving Forward with new Area Plan

July 20, 2010 By

While some are excited about working on a new Cherry Creek Area Plan in order to determine new guidelines for making changes in the future, others are asking why a new plan is being developed when the previous plan still hasn’t been set completely into action.

“We’re grateful that an area plan was done in 2000, but the criticism is that all of this great vision is done, but it’s sitting in the plan,” said Barbara Metzger, who is a resident of Cherry Creek East. “We want to make sure that the conversations are implemented.”

According to Metzger and other residents of Cherry Creek, all of whom gathered at the first Cherry Creek Area Plan’s public workshop that took place earlier this month, the same concerns being discussed today are the same ones residents had 10 years ago when the previous plan was developed. For example, the residents would like to see more defined gateways welcoming visitors to the city, improved connectivity for pedestrians, bikers and motorists and an increase in the amount of pedestrian lighting.

“We’re Cherry Creek, and we can’t get to the creek,” said Metzger as she discusses the need for improvements to be made on the Cherry Creek bike path, which currently requires going through the South Madison Street and East Alameda Avenue intersection.

Despite these concerns, Community Planning and Development Department officials maintained that it is time for a new plan, as numerous redevelopment projects have occurred since the previous plan was developed. Furthermore, more major projects are expected in the near future. According to Chris Gleissner, who is the co-project manager for the Cherry Creek Area Plan, the previous plan has served its purpose well and will continue to do so. For example, thanks to the previous plan, developers had guidelines in place for development along East First Avenue as well as the redevelopment in Cherry Creek North and Cherry Creek East. On the other hand, the previous plan only makes recommendations for land use, development and mobility, but it falls short of actually making any changes.

Despite the protests, officials are moving forward with a draft plan, which is slated to be complete in February. Adoption of the new plan is expected to take place in the spring, though more public workshops will be hosted before the draft and adoption of the new plan is completed.

Filed Under: Business & Finance

Marketing a Denver Home: Five Essential Tips

July 12, 2010 By

Thankfully the property market is beginning to look up, with real estate experts advocating that we are well and truly in a buyer’s market. However, that is not to say that those selling their homes do not need to employ the latest tactics and marketing strategies. Denver home sellers certainly need to be able to use the best possible tactics to achieve a maximum fair market value for the sale of their property, with Denver home buyers being particularly up on the market. As a result, you may need a few hints and tips to get you started and ensure that success is within easy touching distance.

The five Denver home marketing tips will get you started and ensure the best possible level of success:

* Accurate Value Assessments – When marketing your Denver home, you must establish an accurate price for your home to ensure that you do not have to undertake price reductions at a later date. Setting the right price for your property will attract buyers without putting them off with apparent reductions that indicate initial overpricing or even worse – that your property is unsellable.  Avoiding reduction marketing campaigns at all costs is an absolute must so making sure you get the price right first time is the best solution for all involved.

* Choose a Good Day for Marketing – A Multiple Listings Service (MLS) is a fantastic tool to use when marketing your Denver home but does not achieve success on its own. Instead, you have to choose when your listing is to go up to achieve the maximum impact possible. The more people that see your listing, the more likely your property is to sell quickly. The best day to list your property is Friday to grab weekend browsers, with other weekdays being relatively undesirable.

* Get Web Savvy – Home buyers all over the world are becoming more and more reliant on the Internet to find the best possible properties. As a result of that though, those sellers that are not Internet savvy may suffer as a result. This is why you should hire a local Denver real estate expert that has experience in marketing strategies to sell property online.

* Use the Categories Extensively – If you have ever been on a property website then you will be fully aware of the fact that prices tend to fall into specific category ranges and buyers use them to search effectively. As such, your property should fall within the best possible category for maximum sales impact. For example, if your comparative market analysis (CMA) recommends listing your home as $376,000 then you should take it down to $375,000 to ensure that it is listed in the $350,000 to $375,000 category.

* Check Out the Market – Although you will not need to do this during the good times, if the local market is under conditions that may harm your chances of selling your home you may need to scout the local area to see if there are any foreclosed properties up for sale in your area. A local real estate agent can do this for you. If there are foreclosed properties available for a low price to gain a quick sale then you may want to consider waiting to list your property.  The likelihood of you attracting a good price for your property in such conditions is low so wait until the market picks up.

With these marketing strategy tips in mind, you will find that your Denver home will sell much more effectively and quicker than would otherwise be possible. Adhering to them will definitely get you the best possible deal so make sure that everything is in place in line with these tips.

Dylan Taft is an experienced Hudson Valley real estate professional working in home sales and purchases. Visit Dylan’s professionally optimized website for more information on property taxes, and details on the Ulster County real estate area.

Filed Under: Denver Real Estate Tagged With: ,

King Tut Comes to the Denver Art Museum

July 10, 2010 By

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” has opened at the Denver Art Museum’s Frederic C. Hamilton Building. The traveling exhibition contains more than 100 impressive objects that span 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history.  Some 50 items come from King’s Tut tomb, including the golden sandals that adorned the mummy’s feet.

The exhibition also features 80 ancient artifacts that highlight many of ancient Egypt’s most significant rulers, such as Khafre, builder of the Great Sphinx and one of the pyramids at Giza. Artifacts include stone sculptures, clothing and burial items that rarely leave Egypt.

To enrich the visitor experience, the museum offers an informative audio tour narrated by Harrison Ford and a screening of the vivid film, Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies. Both the audio tour and 3-D film can be added at the time of ticket purchase.

Museum officials say this new exhibition could be the Denver Art Museum’s biggest attraction ever. It made its North American debut in Atlanta in 2009 and drew record crowds in Toronto.

The touring exhibition is organized by the National Geographic Society, Arts and Exhibitions International Inc. and AEG Exhibitions. The exhibition runs in Denver until Jan. 9, 2011.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets online.

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment Tagged With: ,

Cherry Creek Mall Adds 5 Elite stores

July 8, 2010 By

A French boutique, fashionista favorite, self-serve yogurt shop, Sports Authority’s first venture into high-end performance wear, and the shopping center’s first nail salon are expanding Cherry Creek Mall’s selection of stores.

BCBGMAXAZRIA, which has already opened, carries women’s ready-to-wear lines by founding designer Max Azria. Shoppers can choose from evening dresses, swimwear, footwear, handbags and watches, among other items. The store’s name comes from the French phrase “bon chic, bon genre,” which reportedly is Parisian slang for “good style, good attitude.”

Cherry on Top, a self-serve yogurt store, recently opened on the lower level. Posh Nails, the mall’s first nail salon, has opened on the upper level next to Macy’s.

Façonnable, a boutique featuring French Riviera-inspired fashions for men and women and S.A. Elite are both scheduled to open this summer. The Cherry Creek location of S.A. Elite, which Sports Authority designed to meet the needs of elite sports enthusiasts, is the first one to be launched.

The Denver Business Journal reports that the Cherry Creek Mall is the exclusive location for each of the five new stores. They join the mall’s other 37 stores, each of which is exclusive to the Denver area.

Banner photo by pbo31, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: , , , , ,

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