I blogged about this earlier and I'm giddy because the hard copy of Sold Magazine finally arrived from Australia!

Nothing like seeing oneself in print. What a great way to kick off my weekend!

I've videoblogged about this before but STILL I walk into open homes and am flabbergasted by what the Realtor is wearing! One gal had on nothing more than 2 band-aids held together by some string, and mini-skirt so short it might as well have been a belt. Seriously, how do you politely ask "Are you hockin' homes or hockin' hooters!?" If clients can't tell whether the house or you is for sale, you're in big trouble. 

Here is my new video for eHow.com on how real estate agents ought to dress. (However, if you are selling a house to Hugh Hefner, then go for the daisy dukes & halter tops. Know your clientele!)

I've never been so terrified in my entire life. I just saw Paranormal Activity 3 and seeing all the 1980's decor gave me quite a fright! From the pastel art work, tract housing, vaulted ceilings,  to brass fixtures...not to mention side pony tails, off the shoulder sweaters a la Flash Dance and Teddy Ruxpin!

Even if you are not a fan of horror flicks, check out this film, if only to take a stroll down 1980's memory lane. I'm sure many of us grew up in a house just like one in Paranormal Activity 3! Boo! 

My latest column for AGBeat is bound to raise a few eyebrows in the realtor community. Do you want your agent to inform you they are a victim of foreclosure?

An industry secret

It’s considered hush hush, but many agents have lost their homes to foreclosure. This housing mess has affected everyone. Admit it or not, that includes us real estate agents. Realtors were not immune. Some of us speculated just as much as the banks and some of us got swept up in the dizzying ascent of the market. And frankly, some of us lost our shirts.

For those agents who have personally gone through foreclosure, do you tell clients, or do you sweep it under the rug? An agent’s own REO experience can be a blemish. People think “Wait, you’re supposed to be the real estate expert. How could this happen to you? Shouldn’t you know better? And if you couldn’t save your own house, what makes you think you can save my house?”

Painful, albeit valid, questions. Would you hire an electrician whose own sub-panel gets burnt to a crisp? A plumber whose own pipes explode? When we position ourselves as the authority on real estate, there is a certain expectation from consumers that we know what we are talking about. Our own real estate failings can discredit us.

The flip side of the coin
On the other hand, is it better to tell clients that you know first hand what they are going through? As prevalent as it is, foreclosure is still shameful and a seller may take solace that you can relate. A strong rapport helps, especially in distressed sales. Sometimes emotional support is more important to a client. Also having gone through the process yourself, you know the pitfalls to avoid. Sharing your past mistakes can help them navigate the rocky road ahead.

Do you think agents who have lost property in a foreclosure or a short sale ought to disclose this to clients? Are they more or less qualified to assist owners facing repossession?

Super excited to be hosting for megasite ehow.com! Logging over 46 million visitors each month, they are the 19th largest website in the world (per comScore July 2011). In fact, Rachel Ray just teamed up with ehow this summer too for her new video series. Hey, if it's good enough for Rachel Ray, it's good enough for me!

Learn how to fight an incorrect appraisal, how to dress to sell a home, how to decorate a teeny tiny apt , how to promote yourself as a realtor, and more!

I really enjoyed this episode of HGTV's #1 rate show House Hunters. I got to help my  friend & her hubby find a new home in San Francisco.  Not only did we go to high school together, she and I also studied abroad together in France! Mon Dieu, I was a hot mess back then! I'm glad she didn't hold that against me. LOL! 

So pleased these 2 snagged a fabulous tri-level condo in the uber cool DogPatch District. (Check out my favorite restaurant there called Serpentine.)  Congrats you two!

If you are looking for a home in San Francisco Bay Area and want to be on House Hunters with me, please pop me a note!

To accompany my cover article, Sold Magazine asked me to do a special videoblog post for Sold Expo. I gladly obliged!

Watch my clip for top tips for Real Estate Video Blogging. I did my best-est to condense one of my public speaking topics: SOCIAL MEDIA: I ♥ VideoBlogging & So Should You!"  If you've never seen that presentation live, you'll see this is the Cliff Notes version!

Happy Vlogging! Share your videos with me, I'd love to see!

Check out my cover story for Sold Magazine in Australia: "Video Marketing made simple!" Of all the interviews I've done this year, this is by far my favorite! Writer Samantha McLean & I just clicked and it shows! (I've never met an Aussie I didn't get along with)

Excerpt:
Herman Chan is a Real Estate Agent by trade, but his claim to fame is that his hit video blog "Habitat for Hermanity" has in one year amassed over 12,000 combined followers on Twitter and Facebook.  Samantha McLean spoke to Herman to get some of his best video marketing and blogging tips for Sold magazine readers.   Read the rest here.

The printed hard copy version is here.

Thousands of my 25,000 fans played my facebook game, but there can only be one winner. Watch my video below to see if you snagged a brand new KODAK M580 EasyShare Digital Camera!

Thank you to everyone for playing! Stay tuned for my next giveway.

You're in for a treat! I'm pleased to bring you a chat with my friend Ross Farrell...straight from his  fabulous living room.  You may recognize Ross from his many TV appearances  on Style Network's Area, Beautiful Homes & Great Estates, Landscaper's Challenge & Designer's Challenge on HGTV. Find out all the places that Ross has lived that inspire his home decor, whether you need to go to school to be a designer and what his next big project is!

Check out his website for his paintings, home decor portfolio and his fashion line!  This man does it all (well, except for one thing. But you'll have to watch our video to find out!)

Owned by MTV/Logo, NewNowNext is Logo Digital’s hub for the latest in music, TV & movies, fashion, design, travel, beauty and health. They've smart, quirky, sassy contributors scattered around the globe feeding the site new articles and videos on a daily basis....including Hermanity! 

Catch all my Real Estate & Design  tips right here.