South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: South Austin Real Estate Blog, (Sky Realty Austin)

Host a Creek Clean up

Here is a great idea,  with the weather cooling now and the days still long enough to enjoy the outdoors, try this with friends and co workers to help Keep Austin Beautiful and feel like you have really accomplished something for your community.

HOSTING A CREEK CLEANUP
is a great way to give back to the community where you live and enjoy all the great outdoor events.   Is the creek you love filled with beer cans and six-pack rings? All you have to do is gather some friends to clean it up, and Keep Austin Beautiful and Watershed Protection and Development Review will give you all the guidance and materials you need.  www.keepaustinbeautiful.org                For more information contact us at Jessica@KeepAustinBeautiful.org or 512.501.3633


Jessica can give you the details ...
 
• Guidance in the planning of your cleanup
• A Cleanup Kit that includes:
   - trash bags
   - gloves
   - pickup tools
   - poison ivy block
   - and a first aid kit
• Trash collection arranged by KAB
• Fun giveaways to thank volunteers for their participation
• Recognition of your accomplishments on the KAB website

Sounds like a really great idea for one of these fall weekends before the rainy season really kicks in.  

9 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 09 2009 07:34AM

Hearing? Listening? There is a Difference

Hearing me? Listening? There is a difference

Yesterday we stopped at a fast food to get a snack and something cold to drink on our way home from picking up a mare, we had been out for all afternoon and it was at least an hour home so everyone was hot and a bit hungry.  My daughterand two of my grandsons the 5yr old and the 11 yr old and me.  The kids were being entertained by the DVD (what a great invention) so back to the fast food place.

Since we had the truck and horsetrailer its not easy to find a parking space so I told my daughter I will go inside and you go park in the Lowe's lot (which was huge and empty) .  

Entering the fast food place, I stand in line and watch the young folks at the counter doing their jobs.  There seems to be a bit of inefficiency going on but thats not uncommon, now its my turn.  I step up to the young lady and  ...

 I said:  I would like 3 orders of the 5 chicken strips.

Young lady says:    Do you want those, small? medium? or large?

I said:  Excuse me?

Young Lady says;  Do you want those, Small? Medium? or Large?

I said:   The 5 piece chicken strips comes in more than 5 pieces?

Young lady said:   Oh, you just want chicken strips.

I said: yes please.

Young lady said:   Did you want anything else?

I said: yes, 4 small drinks.

Now, that was the whole conversation except for that will be $$$ and I paid.  So, was I clear in my request?  I thought so.  Was the young lady assuming I meant the combo meal, which would have come in Small , Medium or Large,?  I do not know but I think so.

This is the very thing many of us are guilty of .. assuming we know what the customer wants because that is what everyone else wanted.  This is true in real estate as well as fast food purchasing.  It was a good lesson to me, to take the obvious and probe deeper into the meaning.  

While we try in our professional life to really listen to the clients to hear what they are saying, are you really hearing it? Or are you jumping ahead in your mind and thinking you know what they are meaning?
13 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 08 2009 07:52AM

A Shameless Plug for the new Group SHAMELESS PLUG

After posting to various groups about local businesses and activities and events I thought it would be a fun idea to have all those in one area, besides of course Localism. 

     http://activerain.com/groups/shamelessplugs

 

When you post to Localism its wonderful and is directed to your state, county, city and community. What about also posting those great bragging reports into a group that will easily be found by the Public, Realtors, Mortgage folks, Inspectors, Appraisers and anyone else interested.

Maybe someone is going to be traveling and you have a good local cafe, that post could easily be found in the Shameless Plugs group.  So I am asking for you to post your shameless plugs to this new group as well as your local groups. 

While we all have a rant or two in us, this group is for really positive news ..  spread the news about your neighbors and friends and what you will get is some Google Juice back at you.  Now that is a good thing, anytime.

While your at it, help me think of a new logo, phrase, or any other creative ideas you have for making this a topten group.   So ActiveRain Bloggers, I am asking for your help to establish this group.  Now, go post something.

7 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 07 2009 08:38AM

announcing the Shameless Plugs for everyone, a NEW GROUP

Announcing a new group here for all to use in Active Rain,  SHAMELESS PLUGS, please join me in adding your favorite and newly found businesses, referrals, and any person who delivers what they say they will, and often exceeds your expectation of Customer Service.

We all know how easy it is to "trash talk"  now lets all work on the positive side and bring it out to others, did a business or a service person go above what you expected? In this day and age of a falling off of Customer Service its time to celebrate those who remember what real customer service is and does.

Bring your blog postings here and let us all show that Customer Service is not dead but alive and well. Share the news and you will receive good Google Juice as a backlash.  Not a bad deal huh!

Welcome to all, lets keep this group positive and family ratings.  Thanks again to all and Welcome.

13 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 06 2009 09:44AM

LongHorn Football is on Paid Service Only?

Longhorn Football is on Paid Service Only.

This stinks.  I have been a University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Football team fan since my youngest grandson could say, HOOK EM  Gran!

That a few years ago.  Last fall I heard about this was going to happen, but ya know sometimes one just has to see it happen before they believe it.  In this case that is true.  

First UT Longhorn Game is tonight, kickoff was at 6PM .. what am I watching on the Television?  Alabama vs Virginia Tech.  Not to say its not a great game, I'm sure it will be but how do I say HOOK'EM?

Don't my taxes pay for the University here?  Real Estate taxes, county taxes, road taxes, retail taxes and you name it taxes?  School fees and etc? Why do I have to pay a  cable company to get a special channel to watch the LONGHORNS play football?  This Stinks!  I am one disgruntled gran.

9 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 05 2009 07:34PM

Ban Texting when Driving in Austin

Texting while Driving IS A NO NO


The City of Austin has an Ordinance with a  new proposal to ban TEXTING while driving.

The Austin Business Journal of Friday Sept 4,2009 carried an article about the proposed ban along with an informal poll of 1,048 votes in the poll. 56% voted to ban texting while driving,  while another 29 percent said the use of cell phones should be banned altogether. Only 15 percent said the city should not ban texting while driving.

It is expected the Ordinance will come before the City Council this fall for confirmation.  Recently it was in the Austin American Statesman that talking on a cell phone when in a school zone will be a traffic violation subject to ticketing.  Sounds like Austin is getting serious about their traffic laws.   From this drivers perspective, that is a good thing.

10 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 05 2009 07:21PM

A shameless Plug for Aspen Tree Service and Landscaping

This is a Shameless Plug for Aspen Tree Service and Landscaping here in Austin Texas.  This week Eddie and the crew came out and trimmed several large oak trees, removed the ball moss from many of the trees on the property, took out one maple tree and a dead oak tree.  Cleaned it up into a brush pile at our direction and left everything neat and tidy. 

Our property in Southwest Austin is over 2 acres and has more than 100 oak trees, of Spanish Oak, Pin Oak, Live Oak and various other trees like Maple, Sumac, Juniper and Pecan, over the past 14 years some of these have gotten beyond just a mere trim here and there. 

In the photos you can easily see the before and after differences and what a big impact it made on the house viewed from the street.  Don't be surprised to see more work being done soon, since now we can see what we are working on.

Aspen Tree Service and Landscaping does Residential and Commercial, they have an Certified Arborist on Staff and also do 24 hour emergency service.  Call for a free onsite quote.  512-552-5966.The photo to the left was taken inside the gate/driveway area before, the right photo was after the cleaning trimming taken from another angle but the same gate post is in the photo.

7 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 05 2009 06:53PM

Tree trimming can make for curb appeal

We live on property that has many many oak trees, they are beautiful, wonderful shade providers, squirrel provides, cardinal refuges, many things to us. Austin is proud of its live oaks and pin oaks and spanish oaks.  We love each and every one of them, so this week we did something that has made a huge improvement around here.  The trees got a haircut. a tree trimming. 

Since the proof is in the pudding and a picture is worth a thousand words, who wants to read all those words, here are the before and afters.  Thanks to Aspen Tree Service of Austin, 512-552-5966. More to come later about that awesome company. Can you believe its the same place?  before and after.

10 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 04 2009 08:16AM

Schools and the Presidents Campaign

Next Tuesday, Sept 8,2009 our President Obama is planning on addressing the school children of our nation in their classrooms.  This has become a very controversial event.  I am unsure why but I haven't researched the event.

Last night was the Parents Meet the Teacher event at our local middle school.  The event for next week was addressed during the event, the school board stated,  "We only have a few limited hours with your child each day and we have much to teach, therefore we have opted out of the Presidential address". 

To me that seems like a very reasonable way to avoid controversy and keep politics out of the middle school.  I agree that is a wise move, people are free to think what they want, middle school is not the place to drag in right and left politics.  Teach the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Pledge of Allegiance to America.

I say HOORAY to Dripping Springs ISD for taking the lead in school is for teaching .. it is no wonder this district has multiple Exemplary Rated schools.

8 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 04 2009 07:31AM

Keep Austin Weird 5K

Keep Austin Weird 5K  Sept 12th, 2009    


There will be a start off for the 5K run at 8:00am and a start off for the Family 1K at 9:00am,  both starting from downtwon Austin Texas.


The Keep Austin Weird 5K will start at the Buford Bell Tower locted at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez St. and Colorado St.  The finish will end at the same intersection.  Online registration is available until Sept 10th, THursday at 6:00PM.

For more information please check the website for costs and pickup packets time.  You can also find at the website information about commuting with Capitol Metro, parking, volunteers needed, family prices and sponsorships.     http://www.runtex.com/web/2-2606.asp

Mark your calendar to be there Sept 12th and come out to help KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD with a fun run for all, including strollers and 4 legged family members (on a leash).

3 commentsSouth Austin Real Estate Blog, • September 04 2009 07:18AM