Luxury Real Estate

By Joey Pauley

Team building is essential for any company. When I worked in Philadelphia, many of my coworkers had similar interests to build on. Team building was very easy. We had a foosball table (as essential to any startup as the computers we programmed on). Every Friday we had a competition between the staff in the office that made for some great bonding. As the less-skilled players’ aspirations were crushed, the cream of the foosball world rose to the top.

Here at Luxury Real Estate we have a foosball table too but it has a few broken players that have not been fixed in years. What do we do then to promote bonding between team members? . . . Go-Carts!

Last week we went to K1 Speed in Redmond to race go-carts. After getting the fastest lap time in qualifying I was in the pole position so it was my race to lose. Pedal to the metal, I took off to an early lead. After one of the racers crashed I noticed I was a few corners ahead of my closest competition, Trevor Rowe, our Lead Web Developer. I took it easy for the next few laps resting on my lead until I felt Trevor getting close. The pedal hit the floor again.

Pretty soon with one lap to go Trevor and I were about to lap Dave, one of our Web Production Specialists. This was Trevor’s chance and I knew he was not going to pass it up. We all went around a tight corner as Trevor took the outside line I took the inside around Dave and something had to give. That something was Dave. His car spun out as we both rubbed him. As any good racer knows “Rubbing is Racing.”

The last of the race was uneventful but, unlike the foosball games at my previous employment, I earned something I was never able to get, 1st place.


Note: The person holding the bottle of Champaign on top of the podium is me. Trevor is on the right and Jean-Yves Piton, the Global Services Membership Manager, is on the left. Participants from 4th place on are out of the picture ;-)


Editor’s Note:
As a Technical Account Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com, Joey Pauley helps members with their Web and technology needs. He does a phenomenal job in all of his projects, as you can see by visiting the many websites he has helped design. I was definitely one of the people who got 4th or worse in this race. It was a lot of fun and a great challenge. Hopefully you can use team-building activities in your company, as well. Photo taken by James Hughes, the LuxuryRealEstate.com Controller.

By Yvonne Harvey

With the Fourth of July weekend just around the corner, I can’t help but talk about the Declaration of Independence. And, of course, it all happened in Philadelphia, where we are holding our 13^th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference!

I found some interesting factoids on the famous, or maybe infamous, painting by John Trumbull, simply titled “Declaration of Independence.” As you know, paintings back then were the cameras of today. And this painting today would more likely be in the tabloid section or propaganda fodder. There are so many historical flaws in this painting, that its historical relevance is almost moot.

You may remember, if you read or watched The Da Vinci Code, how you instantly went and looked closely at the painting. Well, this might just make you want to take a look at this one, too. Look under the desk at the legs of our standing forefathers. They seem to be disproportionate to their bodies, especially Thomas Jefferson’s leg.

The painting includes 48 portraits. Of those 48, 43 were signers and 5 who may have been there, but did not sign the Declaration of Independence. Please note there were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Hmmmm… several seem to be missing.

The painting itself was piecemealed together. It is said that John Trumbull carried his canvas with him to take advantage of any occasion which might arise; this would be comparable to our picture phone today. Many of the portraits were painted directly onto the canvas from life between 1789 and 1794, or sketches Trumbull had done in earlier years, i.e. John Adams in 1787 in Paris. If an historian wants to correct me here, please chime right in, but I need to ask this question. Wouldn’t that mean the attendees may appear as much as 18 years older from the date the Declaration of Independence was adopted? If my calculations are correct John Adams was 41 when he adopted the Declaration of Independence, and yet Trumbull sketched him at the age of 52. Just thinking out loud.

It is also historical fact that Trumbull was unable to meet all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence; in nine of the cases the attendees had died before the opportunity arose. In some of these cases he painted from portraits hanging in the “Independence Chamber.” Since then, four of these portraits have been deemed fake. One, in particular, is the so-called portrait of William Whipple who died in 1785, and yet the signer of the painter is St. Memin, who was only born in 1770 and didn’t even come to America until 1793. Historians now agree the portrait is of a Joseph Wipple (note the spelling of his last name is even different Geesh!).

Painter Robert Edge Pine had an unfinished painting “Congress Voting Independence,” which historians agree was more historically accurate than Trumbull’s. And yet, we use Trumbull’s painting in many history books. Pine actually lived in the very building and painted in the “Independence Chamber” It appears that Trumbull embellished the room in his painting with colorful red, white and blue, and even had the wrong furniture. We know this because the actual desk and chair used by John Hancock is preserved in the Independence Hall. Again, Pine’s depiction is much more accurate.


Finally, I find this quite weird, even the Internet is unclear on the spelling of John Trumbull’s last name. Some spell Trumbull, and some spell Trumball. Oy!

Whew! I feel like I just did a whole book report for my teacher. I hope you enjoyed my little rant.

See you in Philly!


Editor’s Note:
Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. History is quite amazing, isn’t it? I love the Founding Fathers and I am always amazed by how much they sacrificed to fight tyranny and establish the first nation of liberty. George Washington is one of my biggest heroes and he is one of the best people who ever lived, in my humble view. The two pictures above are from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Declaration_of_Independence_(John_Trumbull).jpg and www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/images/vc53.jpg.

By Dr. Carl Peralta

MTV has yet again chosen Malta as one of the destinations for its summer concerts. This year’s concert was held five minutes away from the 77 Great Estates office in Valletta.

International music artists, including Enrique Iglesias, Lady GaGa, One Republic, The Kooks and N.E.R.D., rocked thousands of foreigners who flew over for this amazing concert in the middle of the Mediterranean.

The artists fell in love with Malta’s sun-drenched island and we are sure LuxuryRealEstate.com’s clients will enjoy Malta, too. We will be more than happy to assist LuxuryRealEstate.com clients to purchase/lease a property in Malta. For more information about the event, please visit: http://isleofmtv.mtv.co.uk/.


Editor’s Note:
Dr. Carl Peralta founded 77 Great Estates in 2003. Business being his chief interest, Dr. Peralta has successfully co-organized many large-scale entertainment events since 1995. Events like this are great for bringing international attention to luxury hotspots. The celebrities at this concert, and I’m sure many of the fans, have received a taste for the beautiful island of Malta, and I hope that this will provide some excellent incentives for them to return. Feel free to share your positive events like this in the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog.

By Bente Madtsen

Did you know Luxury Real Estate will host the 4th Annual Luxury Real Estate International Conference in Paris, France January 21st – 23rd, 2009?

The conference will be held at Hotel du Louvre in one of Paris’ finest districts. This is the one conference you cannot afford to miss, whether you are located in the United States, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, United Kingdom, France, Spain or any other country in the network.

Meet your peers from other parts of the world, connect with them and expand your business. See the sights, partake in the shopping and feel the luxury of the most romantic city in the world.

If you are interested in more information please feel free to contact me at 206.695.4802.

We look forward to seeing you in Paris!


Editor’s Note:
Bente Madtsen is the Director of Global Services with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She works closely with a number of brokers around the world to ensure that our members benefit from our international reach. Our next conference is the 13th Annual Fall Conference in Philadelphia on October 11-14, 2008. Don’t miss out on either of these upcoming events because they can be quite helpful in unexpected ways.

By Brian Langhorst

Rollie Jordan, our longtime member in Cherry Creek, Colorado is hosting an open-house charity cocktail reception at one of her listings in the Denver Country Club. All of the proceeds, including a suggested donation, benefit TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (www.TAPS.org). Please contact Rollie Jordan at rolliejordan@aol.com or 303.336.0336 for more information. Click the link below to view the full invitation in a PDF.

By Yvonne Harvey

Since we made the announcement that we are having this year’s 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference in Philadelphia, I have become almost obsessed with Philadelphia’s history. In past blogs, we have discussed Rocky Balboa’s historic run up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Liberty Bell typo.

Well of course I had to talk about a young woman named Betsy Ross. We all know that she was the seamstress of the very first United States flag, but do we really know Betsy Ross as a person? She gained historical relevance from just one snapshot of her life, and yet I felt she was much more than just a seamstress. She was an extremely strong woman, and the epitome of a woman living in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries.
 

Betsy was the eighth of seventeen children and was raised in a Quaker community. Her first marriage to John Ross in 1773 caused a split with her family and meant her expulsion from the Quaker congregation since she married outside of her sect. She was only married to John Ross less then 3 years when he was killed by a military explosion. She went on to marry twice more and both of them died relatively young. She had a total of seven children, two of which died very young.

Even in death, Betsy would not rest in peace. Betsy was buried on the Free Quaker burial ground on South 5th Street. Twenty years later, her remains were exhumed and reburied in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in the Cobbs Creek Park section in Philadelphia. In preparation for the United States Bicentennial, the city ordered her remains moved to the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House in 1975; however, workers found no remains under her tombstone. Bones found elsewhere in the family plot were deemed to be hers and were re-interred in the current grave visited by tourists at the Betsy Ross House today.

It is rare to have people today to have a smidgen of the hardships women of the 1700s and 1800s had, and Betsy Ross endured them all. This blog is not to make you sad, but to make you feel thankful and blessed for your family’s and friends’ health and see the strength of women such as Betsy Ross. Can you imagine what people will say in 200 years about how we lived and how we persevered?


Editor’s Note:
As she mentioned, Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. You should definitely join us at the 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference on October 13-15, 2008. I enjoy studying history because it is through the sacrifices and experiences of past generations that current ones have been brought to pass. Plus, I try to learn from others’ experiences. Betsy Ross is a wonderful example of perseverance and nobility. Thank you for the great blog entry, Yvonne! The painting above is from www.ushistory.org/betsy/flaglife.html.

By Yvonne Harvey

As the Events Coordinator at LuxuryRealEstate.com, I feel it is very helpful to have a checklist before I go to a conference to be prepared. Last week a co-worker found a blog entry on seomoz.org in regards to a conference checklist. I have added a few items as it relates to the Luxury Real Estate conferences, and I believe it will help you maximize your experience.

What to Bring:

Business Cards – The person giving the card is much more important than the quality of the card. Unless you have superfluous design resources, don’t spend a significant amount of time or money on your business cards.

Laptop/Notepad – The medium onto which you transcribe your notes is personal preference. Just make sure you bring something and utilize it to its fullest.

Good Shoes – You will be standing and walking around in between sessions. Fuse function with fashion.

Appropriate Clothing – Check your favorite weather source and plan accordingly – we often have outdoor events. The event documents will state the dress code for the events – generally business or business casual during the day and business or cocktail in the evening.

Prepare Yourself:

Sign Up For a LinkedIn Account and Join the Luxury Real Estate Group – Be prepared to have other attendees research you and be sure to research them after the conference.

Know the Big Players/Companies – Know who the big players are before you get to the conference. Be proactive in seeking out potential contacts and individuals from your feeder markets.

Personalize Your Own Itinerary – Choose breakout sessions and roundtable discussions that you will be attending. Refer to the hotel map found in your packet for locations.

Airline Savings – Luxury Real Estate offers promotional codes on one or more airline. It may be only 5%, but hey, it’s savings! Or use airline mileage to book your flights.

Book Your Hotel Room – Planning ahead will ensure best room selection.

Pictures for the Roster – Luxury Real Estate provides a roster with pictures. It is extremely helpful to put a name with a face. Give your picture to Luxury Real Estate one month before the conference to be included in the roster.

Optional:

Bring a Separate Wireless Internet Source – If you have the resources, bring an external Internet source (i.e., PC card). This will keep you connected if Wi-Fi is not available or it goes down. Or rely on your mobile wireless device to keep up with email.

Be Born at Least 21 Years Prior to the Event – In the United States the legal drinking age is 21. Although drinking is not required by any means, a lot of networking occurs in the hotel bar in between events.

Find Restaurants Nearby – Knowing places to eat is always a great way to help you network. People unfamiliar with the area will be looking for someone who is in the know.

During the Conference:

Network, Network, Network! – The relationships you make at conferences have much more potential than the information you learn in sessions. Since almost everyone at a conference is there to network, meeting people should be easy. Study the roster in your conference packet.

Visit Sponsor Booths – Sponsors’ booths will feature important people and offer conversation starters with the people you don’t know. Frequently our sponsors provide elaborate giveaway items – don’t miss out!

Eat a Healthy Carb and Protein In the Morning – You do not want to miss out on valuable information throughout the day. Stay awake! You want to take in all you possibly can.

Drink a Lot of Water – Keeping yourself hydrated keeps you energized and fully functional.

Use Your Notepad/Computer – Take a lot of notes, at least one new page/file per session.

Always Bring Along Your Conference Packet – You may have your day planned out, but you never know when a conversation goes long and you are in the hall looking for your next event.

Keep All of Your Random Ideas In One Place – This can either be a separate text document or the last page of your notepad.

Collect Cool Promotional Items – Free stuff is great. Gather as much as you can and bring it home for friends, family or colleagues.

Receptions and Dinner Parties:

Mingle, Mingle, Mingle – Maximize your chances to network and meet other attendees.

Avoid Useless Conversations – Make your impact but keep most conversations short and to the point. Don’t get stuck with one person all night.

Don’t Sit With Friends or Colleagues – This is hard because most people see reception and dinner as a time to relax. This is not necessarily true. Network, Network, Network!

Post-Conference:

Review Business Cards – Reviewing business cards helps you to remember the people you met.

Review Notes – This will help you prioritize your follow-up tasks.

Create a To-Do-List – After a conference, your motivation will likely be really high. Use this opportunity to define future tasks and goals. It is helpful to do this right away. Review your list later (to see if you have accomplished what you intended).

Complete the Conference Survey – A survey will be sent to you one week after the conference. It is important for us to hear your feedback.

Re-connect:

Blog About It – Not only will this help you keep a record of the event, but it also provides an avenue to cement connections with people and promote yourself online.

Connect Online – Find people you met and connect with them in an online environment. Specifically, find people on LinkedIn, ActiveRain and other online communities.

Do You Have Any Tips? – We would love to hear from you on how to get the most out of LuxuryRealEstate.com conferences. Share them with us.


Editor’s Note:
As she mentioned, Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. You should definitely join us at the 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference on October 11-14, 2008. This is quite a long blog entry, but it’s definitely chock full of useful tips to follow.

By Yvonne Harvey

Did you know the state of “Pennsylvania” is spelled incorrectly on the Liberty Bell?

Inscribed on the Bell is the quotation, “By Order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for the State House in Philada.” Note that the spelling of “Pennsylvania” was not at that time universally adopted. In fact, in the original Constitution, the name of the state is also spelled “Pensylvania.”

If you get a chance to visit the second floor of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, take a moment to look at the original maps on the wall. They, too, have the state name spelled “Pensylvania” (and the Atlantic Ocean called by the name of that day, “The Western Ocean”). The choice of the quotation was made by Quaker Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Assembly.


Editor’s Note:
Yvonne Harvey is the Events Coordinator for LuxuryRealEstate.com. So when you come and enjoy the wonderful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities at Luxury Real Estate conferences, you know who to thank. You should definitely join us at the 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference on October 11-14, 2008. And be sure to take lots of notes. I know I’ll have my “penn” ready if I get to go to “Pensylvania.”

By Robert Lockard

The 13th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference is coming up on October 11-14, 2008 in Philadelphia. That’s right – Rocky Balboa’s old stomping grounds. I love the character of Rocky because he’s such an archetypal underdog, fighting against all odds to do something special. His triumphant run up the many stairs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a wonderful cinematic scene that speaks volumes about striving against all odds.

I hope you’ll join us at this event where hundreds of luxury real estate agents will come together to boost the underdogs and help everyone triumph in the face of tough markets. Contact Events Coordinator Yvonne Harvey for more information and to sign up.


Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of Luxury Real Estate’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. I welcome your input on this story.

By Brian Langhorst

Rollie Jordan of The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, Colorado was recently awarded 5th place among all Denver REALTORS® for total sales volume in 2008! This award was presented by the Denver Board of REALTORS® at their annual roundtable awards luncheon.

Rollie is a long-standing member of LuxuryRealEstate.com and Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. She has listed many of the landmark listings in the greater Denver Metropolitan area. She is currently one of the listing agents for Greystone Manor in Evergreen, Colo. listed for $24,000,000 USD. This listing is truly one of a kind in the state of Colorado. The listing is set upon 57 acres with seven outbuildings, including an entertainment pavilion.


Editor’s Note:
Brian Langhorst is LuxuryRealEstate.com’s Membership Manager. He meets members’ unique needs through the dynamic services LuxuryRealEstate.com provides. This is wonderful news. Congratulations, Rollie!