Habitat for Hermanity: Your Real Estate Infotainment...Where Housing Hilarity Ensues! San Francisco Bay Area Realtor Herman Chan

TableTopicsRE interviews Hermanity about videoblogging tips

8/18/2011

Bob Watson catches with real estate video blogger Herman Chan for a quick word on agent video blogging from the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco. Herman shares a few quick tips for realtors thinking about interacting with their clients via this medium:

Any smart phone, iPhone, or the Kodak Zi8 will do the trick.
Handheld recordings with little motion are tolerable and actually resonate better with clients as they tend to be more personable.
Virtual tour effectiveness is dependent on the listing.
Handheld tours, music, slideshows, etc. are all part of your arsenal tool kit to market yourself and your listings. There’s no one key element that works for everybody.
Every property is different so you have to adjust to the buyer and seller

Thanks to TableTopicsRE for such a great write up!

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Q&A: Money is tight. Can we build an in-law unit without permits?

8/17/2011

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Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

LogoTV viewer asks Hermanity:

Question: We want to build an in-law unit, but money is tight. Should we just use a handyman and bypass permits?
Answer: Handyman for dinky jobs is fine, but doing a major project without permits will come back to bite you. You can get sued, fined or be forced to tear it down. Plus, it can affect your re-sale value too.

Did any viewers out there ever get in trouble for a big renovation without pulling permits? Would love to hear your story!

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Granite Counters: Been there, done that. They are SO over did!

8/16/2011

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Home Renovation Guide featured my Q&A rant about Granite Counters on their blog. When asked about granite, Hermanity Answers : (Yawn) Been there, done that. They are SO over did. Give concrete or recycled glass a try. Thx guys!

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Yikes! We offered $600k but our dream house appraised $590k. What to do?

8/9/2011

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I'm really enjoying interacting with LogoTV viewers about their real estate/design probelms. Another LogoTV viewer pops Hermanity a question:

QUESTION: We offered $600k on our dream house, but it appraised for $590k. What to do?
ANSWER: You can
1) invoke your appraisal contingency & walkaway from the deal
2) convince seller to reduce price by $10k
3) bring in the $10k yourself to bridge the gap.

BOTTOM LINE: If this is truly your dream home, the place you will live in til the day you die, then what is $10k in the grand scheme of life? Besides, amortized over 30 yrs, you're paying a few dollars more per month. Just sayin'!

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

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Say Bye Bye Bye to your agent who pressures you to Buy Buy Buy!

8/5/2011

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LogoTV viewer writes to Hermanity:

QUESTION: The house we're buying has chimney damage. My agent says we should focus on our loan instead? Is that right?
ANSWER: Yikes, your agent just wants to sweep the chimney under the rug & focus on his commission! Watch my video for the 3 steps you need to take ASAP!

Remember guys, you are the client. Your agent is supposed to always have your back & protect your best interests. A great realtors does what is right for you, not for their wallet!

Have you come across any agents who were looking out for themselves more than you? Vent here!

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

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Tips for Kitchen Remodel on the Cheap from Hermanity & Jeff Lewis

8/4/2011

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An average kitchen remodel hovers around $20k-$30k. Who has the kinda dough in this recession?! The economy may be down and out, but that does not mean your kitchen has to be. Watch my clip for quick tips to make it pop. Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out also shares his experience with re-vamping a kitchen rental for under $6k.

Have you done any cool remodels on the cheap? Please share, I would love to post here.

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Design Spotlight: Funky Eclectic Brooke Coe from Huh Designs

8/1/2011

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What a blast hanging out with artist & designer Brooke Coe's house! As owner of Huh Designs, Brooke has designed on HGTV, Discovery, & Disney shows, but what does her own place look like? She cleverly describes it as "Dr. Seuss meets Beetlejuice"! Most of the furniture you see in her house, she built herself with reclaimed wood! (I love a gal who can work a powertool!). You've got to check it out. Schlock full of tips & decor advice!

I met Brooke's husband at one of my speaking gigs and he said we would hit it off. He was right! As big 80's & Madonna fans, Brooke & I pounded out Eye of the Tiger & Dress You Up on her piano. Fun!

Hope you are enjoying these design spotlights videos as much as I am. If you have place/person you wanna share, gimme a holler! I'd love to feature "Ordinary People & Their Extraordinary Places!" right here on Habitat For Hermanity

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SocialMediaHQ interviews Herman about his SM Savvy!

7/29/2011

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SocialMediaHQ sits down with me to discuss social media & real estate. If you aren't sure if you should take a stab at SM, read the answers to questions below & decide for yourself!

*How can social media contribute to the bottom line of businesses, especially real estate professionals?
*Since the housing crash, what trends have you seen in the real estate industry in regards to social media?
*What digital relationship building techniques have you implemented for building your blog?
Read my full interview here

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What to do when your neighbors yard is an eye-sore

7/21/2011

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Let's say you've spent a fortune landscaping your backyard. It's an oasis even HGTV's Jamie Durie would be proud of! But oh no! Your new next door neighbor moved in and they are slobs. Their yard looks like a landfill! Watch my quick tips how to deal with this eye-sore.

PS: thanks for my friends at p6.com for shooting and editing this vid. thanks!

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My guest article for design blog ChicTip: Love your Small Unit! (wink, wink)

7/18/2011

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Read my hilarious double-entendre laced article for ChicTip entitled, Love Your Small Units. Small living is one of the hottest trends now (what with the recession & downsizing).

My tips for how to make your bite-sized abode look bigger include:

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
The less patterns the better
Dual Purpose Furniture
Fiat Lux (fancy Latin!)
K.I.S.S.
Pick one showstopper

Read the full length article here. Do you have any tricks to enlarge your small space? Please share!

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Ghost Bile, Pimply Whiteheads, Exploded Styrofoam...aka Popcorn Ceiling!

7/12/2011

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Can you believe popcorn ceiling once was the height of housing fashion?! Depending on how it was sprayed on, it always looked to me like either ghostly bile or wall of pimply whiteheads. Delish! I find it funny when I see a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging from a ceiling of pigeon poo. If a homeowner is going to spend thousands of dollars on fabulous lighting, why not give it a nice clean backdrop. It's like serving beluga caviar on a Styrofoam plate.

Anyone a fan of popcorn ceiling? LMK! (it's ok. you can post anonymously)

NOTE: Thank you for my friends at P6.com for shooting, editing & hosting this video. Check them out here!

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Video: Not Just for Vixens, But for REALTORS too!

7/7/2011

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Come see me on stage in Manhattan Beach! I'll answer burning questions such as"Will video cement my online presence?" "Can I really make a high quality video that's fast & free?" and most importantly, "If I am ugly, should I still do video?"

"Video may have killed the radio star, but it can make you a real estate star! Just ask Herman Chan, whose video blog Habitat For Hermanity propelled him from dinky local real estate agent to Real Estate Personality on the national stage. We are also having a raffle with an iPad as the main prize. All proceeds for the raffle will go towards funding our scholarship fund. Please join us!"

What:
Video: Not Just for Vixens, But REALTORS too!
Young Professionals Network Tech/Video Event

Where:
American Farmhouse Tavern
924 N Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach

When: Thursday July 21, 2011 4:00pm-6:00pm

How: Register here

See you all there!

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Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Granite Countertops in or out?

7/5/2011

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LogoTV Question: We're re-doing our kitchen. How do you feel about granite countertops?
Hermanity Answer: (Yawn) Been there, done that. They are SO over did. Give concrete or recycled glass a try. More eco & budget friendly!

Watch me enumerate with my trademark sass & sagacity the reasons why this viewer should skip granite counter tops!

Bad for mother earth
Requires too many Benjamins
Honey, that ship has sailed. Next!

What do you think? Are granite counter tops here to stay? Or have you discovered some great alternatives? Please share!

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Interior Design Spotlight: Ornate & Modern w/ Photographer Michelle Drewes

7/2/2011

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You never know who you are going to meet when you're out on the town! Case in point, I was dining with friends one night when I happen to see a very chic woman across the restaurant eating with her friends. I said, "Wow, that gal has style! If her home decor style is anything like her fashion style, she must have a fabu house!" Well a few hours later at another bar, she & her posse waltzed in & bumped into us. We hit it off immediately!

When I found out my new amiga Michelle Drewes was a photographer, I blurted out, "I have not seen your house but I MUST MUST MUST videoblog about it!" So the next day, Michelle graciously let me interview her in her lovely 1929 bungalow & she failed to disappoint. She & her husband bought it as a fixer and took a year to renovate. (It's still not done! She's revamping the backroom to be a photo studio!). Below are photos of her home & my chat with this lovely San Francisco based shutterbug. (She's really rockin' that black lace top & chunky necklace)

To get Michelle Drewes' look, follow these design tips:

Take a risk: Use bold complimentary colors that others would shy away from
Mix Ornate & Modern: Juxtapose West Elm pieces with family heirlooms. Did you see those exquisite china pieces placed against a blood red wall? Genius!
Design Inspiration can come from anywhere....like her Grandma!
Don't copy magazines verbatim. Put your own personality into your home. Check out the images of renowned artist Shepard Fairy on Michelle's walls! (He's the Obama poster guy)

Let me know what you think of Michelle's design skills! If you know anyone else who has decked out their home or office space, pop me a note. I would love to showcase their work right here on Habitat For Hermanity!

(all photos courtesy of Michelle Drewes, duh)

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Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Plastic Wood Panel Walls Rustic & Charming?

6/29/2011

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Viewer Question: Should we get rid of our plastic wood panel walls?
Hermanity Answer: Yes!...unless you're filming a '70s porno

Watch my hilarious & helpful response to a LOGO TV viewer whose husband wants dark dingy plastic wood panel walls in their basement. Bless his heart, but some men are just clueless! (That's why they need us!)

Have you ever had design disagreements with your boo? How did you resolve it? Is it true what they say: Happy Wife, Happy Life?

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My Guest Post for The Design File! Warming Up A Stark Space

6/21/2011

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The Design File featured my posting on How to Warm Up a Stark Black & White Space! Hooray!

"I’m pleased today to have a guest post from Herman Chan, a sort of celebrity real estate agent who writes Habitat for Hermanity. “It’s real estate with a punchline,” the site says.

Today, though, I’m featuring a post from Herman that’s more about high style than it is hilarity. He’s got some great ideas – and great photos – for warming up a stark décor."

Read more here.

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Part 2: Live Interview: Modeling Agency, Urban Loft or Art Gallery

6/19/2011

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Here's my follow-up video to last weeks blog post with Bret Cota, decor designer & owner of Exalt Agency, who decked out this loft with his trademark touch. Find out how he got a leather Gucci furniture piece for $100, why he spends the most money on magazines, and what his dream project would be!

What do you think of his work?

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Design Tip: How to Appear Hoity-Toity

6/10/2011

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If anyone has accused you of being trashy, then you better install a wall of books. It's a sure fire way to prove to those snobs you are not low class. That'll show them! Ha!

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Should I Sell My House Without an Agent?

4/26/2011

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I just wrote an offer for my buyers on a townhouse that was For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The deal didn't come together because the sellers significantly overpriced the house (duh, no surprise there!) They came up with a price based on the amount of money they owed on the house and how much profit they needed, when they should have based it on the current market and recent comparable closed sales. They might learn eventually...but only after wasting everyone's months of time, money & effort.

I dread FSBO's because

The sellers don't really know what they are doing. They read Selling Your Home for Dummies once and think they are experts....when in reality they are just winging it. So what ends up happening is the buyer's agents has to do double duty to hold the deal together. They gotta do twice the work for 1/2 the pay!
FSBO's are notorious for slashing commissions. They don't realize if they don't compensate agents what they are worth, guess what, those agents are not going to show their property! Inventory of buyers plummets. The listing gets "blackballed"
Selling a house is a full time job. FSBO sellers have their own jobs 40-60 hours a week. That is 40-60 hours they can not sufficiently service all the paperwork, inquiries, showings, open houses, disclosures, etc required to sell a property.

What do you guys think? Share your FSBO experiences!

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Ask the Expert for LOGO: Should I Skip the Inspection?....HELL NO!

4/15/2011

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This is a commonly asked question I get from buyers, and I am sooooo glad I got a chance to answer this for LOGO's viewers.

VIEWER QUESTION: We're buying a new construction house. Do we still need to do an inspection?

HERMANITY ANSWER: I don't get this. People are willing to spend 1/2 a million bucks for a house, but can't bear to spend couple hundred dollars for an inspection. It's small price to pay for peace of mind folks....

Want to learn how an inspection can get you more from the builder/developer? Watch til the end of my clip for my hot tip!

Have you ever waived an inspection and lived to regret it? Post your comments here or on LOGO's site here.

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Ask The Expert: What Southwestern towns are gay friendly?

4/5/2011

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The salacious photo of the cowboys was not my doing, I promise! Logo did it!...although if that's what Southwest living is all about, I will move in a heartbeat.

Q: I miss the warmth of Florida, but I couldn’t find banking work there . I want to relocate again soon because I cannot stand Cincinnati and the cold winters here. I am considering the areas from Texas to Arizona – can you advise me on which towns both have the lowest unemployment rate and the largest GLBT population? -Doug, CT

Read my recommendations here. Do you agree?

Meanwhile, if you gotta question for me, LOGO says "Ask YOUR real estate question!"

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Q&A with HERMANITY: Do I Have a Bad Real Estate Agent?!

4/3/2011

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This frustrated viewer wants to know if he got stuck with a bad real estate agent. Duh! If you gotta ask that question, you know you gotta loser on your hand!

Let's face it. Not all realtors are knock-it-outta-the-ballpark superstars. Far from it! (In fact I can rattle off more than a few names of lackadaisical agents, but I'll be discrete for once, hehe). As I told Mother Love on her talk show last week, the bar to entry to this business is lower than Heidi Montag's IQ. This probably isn't going to endear me to the realtor community, but sometimes I am flabbergasted how incompetent & careless some of us are. (Don't hate, y'all know it's true!). But what shocks me even more is how much some clients will put up with. Clients deserve the best work from their agent. If they can't bring it, there are tons of agents more than willing to step up. So, pick your real estate representation carefully.

Have you ever regretted your choice of realtor? What did you do about it?

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Ask The Expert for LOGO: Is my new Hawaiian home eligible for the tax credit?

3/31/2011

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Boy oh boy do I hate answering these kinds of emails! I usually like to be the bearing of good news, as everyone's favorite ball of sunshine. But alas, today I am Grumpy Guss & I gotta burst this man's bubble with bad news. Let me know if I let him down easy! Comment on the site directly here.

On a more professional note, I sometimes get asked about the effectivenesss of those federal and state tax credits. They were touted as the saving grace for the struggling real estate industry. Yet I always felt that, as well intentioned as they were, they were merely a short term band-aid solution. It certainly did not jumpstart the real estate market to recovery. It was a temporary device to artificially prop up the housing market.

Did they really think it was gonna be that easy to un-do all the subprime loans & predatory lending entrenched on Wall St?! Band-aids are for treating cuts and bruises.... not for herroraging amputated limbs!

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Ask The Expert: ‘A new house is blocking my view – Can I do anything?’

3/22/2011

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Hey Hermanity Fans!
Here's my latest column for LogoOnline's 365gay site. Buying a house w/ a view? It might not be there forever. Views aren't guaranteed. Read why in my new column for "Ask The Expert"

This poor guy in Long Island comes home from college to find a monstrous McMansion erected next door. Aside from being an eye-sore, it totally blocks his view! I break it down for this viewer here.

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Ask the Expert for LOGO: We Broke up! What to do about our house?!

3/15/2011

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My favorite video for LOGO thus far! "We Broke up! What to do about our house?" Please share with any friends heading for splitsville. With 61% of Californians getting divorced (at least once!), you can bet your bottom dollar people are going through this!

By the way, if you like my LOGO videos, do me a favor and comment on the actual site (you can log in with your facebook account if you want). The more reactions there are, the more they will let me do!

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<<Previous

Forward>>

TableTopicsRE interviews Hermanity about videoblogging tips

Q&A: Money is tight. Can we build an in-law unit without permits?

Granite Counters: Been there, done that. They are SO over did!

Yikes! We offered $600k but our dream house appraised $590k. What to do?

Say Bye Bye Bye to your agent who pressures you to Buy Buy Buy!

Tips for Kitchen Remodel on the Cheap from Hermanity & Jeff Lewis

Design Spotlight: Funky Eclectic Brooke Coe from Huh Designs

SocialMediaHQ interviews Herman about his SM Savvy!

What to do when your neighbors yard is an eye-sore

My guest article for design blog ChicTip: Love your Small Unit! (wink, wink)

Ghost Bile, Pimply Whiteheads, Exploded Styrofoam...aka Popcorn Ceiling!

Video: Not Just for Vixens, But for REALTORS too!

Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Granite Countertops in or out?

Interior Design Spotlight: Ornate & Modern w/ Photographer Michelle Drewes

Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Plastic Wood Panel Walls Rustic & Charming?

My Guest Post for The Design File! Warming Up A Stark Space

Part 2: Live Interview: Modeling Agency, Urban Loft or Art Gallery

Design Tip: How to Appear Hoity-Toity

Should I Sell My House Without an Agent?

Ask the Expert for LOGO: Should I Skip the Inspection?....HELL NO!

Ask The Expert: What Southwestern towns are gay friendly?

Q&A with HERMANITY: Do I Have a Bad Real Estate Agent?!

Ask The Expert for LOGO: Is my new Hawaiian home eligible for the tax credit?

Ask The Expert: ‘A new house is blocking my view – Can I do anything?’

Ask the Expert for LOGO: We Broke up! What to do about our house?!

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