References:
I have been fortunate to meet terrific Realtors but I consider these people exemplary. They exhibit the utmost in honesty, courtesy, business acumen, professional response & follow-through.
They work brilliantly with clients, associates and other agents/brokers. They gave me my start, constructive advice and ideas. I call them friends. If you are a non-Realtor looking for a quintissential Realtor with commitment, knowledge and sense of urgency, look no further. I am including direct links to their sites where possible.
I don't follow convention and neither do they, so I redid their business cards as a token of thanks; they employ my skills often and are kind to serve as references. I can make you a master of one of these "PaulDesign" cards (price depends on whether I take the portrait) or as a gift after photographing 5 or more of your homes.
First off, before I get to those stellar individuals, I'd just like to say there is one firm above all others that in my personal experience and photography dealings exemplifies and exudes professionalism, courtesy, acumen, ethics and results . . . . whatever your Real Estate needs are for Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage or Desert Hot Springs. After my Dad passed in 1992, it was a Windermere agent in Seattle who really helped my Mom. I've thought a great deal of them ever since, and especially in this venture. I owe them a great deal and think of many of them as friends. "Windermere" contains the word "WIN" for a reason!
Windermere Coachella Valley - ALL Offices
About Michael Layton:
With Michael you will have a friend in the business as I do.
After 16 years working with Realtors building his personal Real Estate
portfolio, Michael SOLD his business & retired to Palm Springs. He
knows how it feels to be in the client's shoes because he never stopped investing in Real Estate! Having personally bought and sold so many types of property, he is an expert in maximizing your Real Estate experience. Palm Springs offers a wonderful lifestyle; with Michael you have someone who enjoys what he does AND
loves where he lives - just like me! He can't wait to share the magic
of the Desert with you. Contact him today at the "Michael's Website"
link above.
SOFTWARE:
Related to Real Estate photos: Some Realtors prefer an "EZ Load" Disk with only MLS uploadable edits; I prefer giving you separate folders for print/web. I don't limit choices! However, depending on the Realtor's software/default image viewer, some have trouble "seeing" those folders; images appear as "one big list of thumbnails," defeating the purpose of separating sizes, crops, lighting variations, etc. SO . . . I'm recommending a fantastic, small FREEWARE (4MB) called "FastStone Image Viewer 3.5"
I beta tested it over 2 years with the author. It's the best, fastest & easiest to use viewer available and includes editing capabilities like sizing, thumbnail/full view, rapid image scrolling, zooming, comparison(s) of 2-4 photos on one screen, and great control over brightness, contrast, hue, gamma, RGB color and cropping! It will not only make viewing my disk(s) easier . . . . you can use it for ALL your photo needs regardless of file type. It's tremendous.
Download it HERE
Install it, go into "Preferences" and make it the default viewer for file types: jpg, gif, png, bmp (and anything else you use often including direct import from your digital camera). It will make things much easier for you.
HINTS:
- I like BLACK background on thumbnails AND full view. Makes images stand out.
- Hit "C" key to "copy," browse for your favorite "save" folder, and it will remember that folder! Thereafter, simply hit "C" and "Enter" and it's copied. Really speeds up file saving.
- You can turn off "thumbnail Database" so it doesn't load that each time you start the program.
- If you use any other advanced photo software programs, hitting "E" will export image to it.
- A "QuickLaunch Taskbar Icon" will allow you to open program when your browser is up.
- When you want to examine images quickly within a folder, RIGHT click on that folder and choose "Browse With FastStone" The thumbnails appear. Double click to see full size; repeat to go back to thumbs.
Additional Links:
BEST browser on the planet (I beta tested daily branch builds for 3 years): Firefox
New York Times Article, Brokers Using Better Photos, Reimbursed by Agent Upon Sale: NY Times
Never Miss an Email Again! ePrompter monitors up to 16 email accounts for you: ePrompter
World renowned Electric Cellist and IMO, STAR of Village Fest - Mr. Marston Smith: Marston's Site
Piercings & Tattoos are common; safe, hygienic PROFESSIONAL sources for them are rare. So for outstanding, creative, sanitized and versatile piercings or tats, try the best first - I did! Gypsy G
Lesbian Weddings/Vacations: Join Joanna & Denise at Casitas LaQuita in Palm Springs, where lesbians choose to stay! CasitasLaQuita
Wonder why your monitor look too light/dark, or not the right color? Tired of Grandma having a blue cast or your dog looking green? Try Monitor Calibration Wizard! Download from HIS site rather than the auxiliary "Simtel" site.