CRAVER'S COMMENTS

April 2004

IN THIS ISSUE

·         PLEASING THE BOSS

·         THE NEW WEB SITE

·         DAR

               

FUTURE ISSUES

        EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS OR SO. I HAVE REALLY BEEN SLOW THIS TIME.

 

THINGS TO BE PROUD OF

   PHIL MICKELSON WON A MAJOR! IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT NICE GUYS CAN FINISH FIRST AND THAT MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN ON EASTER. THE SUPER BOWL WAS EXCITING THIS YEAR WITH THE PANTHERS PLAYING BUT EVEN NON-GOLF FANS WILL TELL YOU THAT THE BACK NINE AT THE MASTERS ON SUNDAY WAS THE BEST SPORTS SHOW IN YEARS.

DID YOU KNOW?

   SINCE WE ARE TALKING GOLF, THE ONE RECORD THEY SAY WILL NEVER BE BROKEN IS BYRON NELSON’S 11 CONSECUTIVE TOURNAMENT WIN STREAK IN 1945. DID YOU KNOW THAT WIN NUMBER FOUR WAS AT HOPE VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB IN DURHAM?

 

PLEASING THE BOSS

     I have been writing this Newsletter for several years and I always give a copy to my boss. He seems to like it and occasionally sends other agents to talk to me about how they can produce a similar one. But he always has one criticism. He is constantly telling me to write about what I do for a living and how I rely on you, my readers, to supply that business. I keep telling him that you folks are smart and know what I do and know how appreciative I am when you send business my way. But somehow I think he expects me to spell it out.

     It is spring and the beginning of our busiest real estate Season, so maybe it’s a good time to present a quick reminder. I do depend on my client base for my future business. But you have a house and don’t plan on buying another in the foreseeable future. What good can you be? Actually the largest source of my business is my former clients sending me new buyers and sellers. A personal referral from a satisfied client is worth more than any amount of advertising I could  buy. Your friends trust your good judgement and that helps me create a bond of trust with a new client. There is no way I could ever properly thank all of you for the wonderful referrals you have sent over the years. Please accept a heart-felt “thanks” and please keep them coming.

       Your referrals do not have to be limited to newcomers to the area or people selling their house here in the Triangle. I can arrange for your friends in other parts of the country to hook up with a qualified buyer’s agent or listing agent where- ever they live. Just contact me with the information and I will get it done. My email address is   tony.craver@verizon.net  and my phone numbers are: work-919-402-1246,  cell—919-604-5289,  home—919-403-0530.

      I also want to encourage you to call or email any questions you might have about your home or the real estate market. I am always glad to help (even when you are not sending business). Once the transaction closes I would like to think that it is the beginning of a longterm friendship and that I will become a resource for any of your real estate questions in the future.

 

THE NEW WEB SITE

     I am pleased to announce my new web site. The address is so easy that even I can remember it.  TONYCRAVER.COM

Several have asked how I was able to get my name as my web site. Well, there just aren’t that many Tony Cravers out there so I got lucky. On this site you can do important things like check out Fonville Morisey listings or search the entireTriangle for just the right home using a detailed set of parameters. All Triangle listings are available to the search. You can also apply for a home mortgage, get a Comparative Market Analysis or email me. There are a lot of web site links available that provide a lot of information about life in the Triangle area. There is also the really important stuff on the new web site like keeping up with the number of grand- children we have (eight is still the magic number). I hope you will enjoy the web site and refer it to others.

 

 

DAR

     The Durham Association of Realtors is breaking ground the last week in April on a new office building. The $1.3 plus million dollar project will provide a lot more than just expanded office and meeting spaces for Realtors. The new facility will have a large events room that can be rented by corporate and civic groups as well as individuals and church groups for meetings, wedding receptions, parties, etc. The room will have a catering kitchen and spill-over space in the entry area as well as an outdoor patio.

     The new building will be located at the corner of University Drive and Lyckan Parkway, just one block off of Martin Luther King Parkway in the South Square area of Durham. One of the main objectives of the new building is to bring the Realtors and the Durham area community closer together. Realtors are constantly trying to protect the property rights of America’s homeowners and to prevent local governments from burdening them with ever increasing taxes. Now the local Realtors want to provide a facility that they can share with our citizens.

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

§         Tom White, President of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, in a speech to the Durham Realtors, presented a chart showing the average wage by the top five counties in the state of North Carolina.They were: 1) Durham County $48,859    2) Mecklenburg $40,717    3) Wake $35.327     4) Forsyth $34,183    5) Orange $32,913.  It’s no wonder that the Triangle is so prosperous. Did you notice the huge difference between Durham and Wake County?

§         I am always bragging about how highly ranked Durham is when it comes to restaurants. In a previously mentioned poll Durham was ranked second to Charleston, SC as the best restaurant town in the Southeast.   I was in Charleston recently and if you get the chance, visit Hymans  Seafood Company on Meeting Street. They have been voted the best in South Carolina for six straight years. Their hush puppies and shecrab soup are the best I have ever had.

§         Cathy and I were honored recently to be included in the final celebration for the Campaign for Duke. Duke University, under the very able leadership of President Nan Keohane, set out to raise $1.5 billion dollars in a five year campaign. When they did it in three years they raised the goal to $2 billion. Duke finished the campaign with $2.34 billion dollars. With the money they are building or renovating 42 buildings on campus, creating new departments, expanding faculty positions, and providing many new scholarships. Their goal is to become the nation’s top university. Duke’s strength will continue to help the Durham area grow.