Provided by Justin Donaton

Carolina Beach council meets tonight; beach funds, predatory towing on agenda

The board’s regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Administration Building, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd.

A report has suggested the town save money annually to prepare for future beach nourishment projects per an expectation that funding aid from the federal and state governments may dwindle. The town council will hear and review the report Tuesday night. (Related story)

The agenda also indicates a discussion on predatory towing in Carolina Beach and existing ordinances meant to address it.

“Carolina Beach visitors and residents have experienced difficulties with predatory towing in the past,” said a related memo to council from Assistant Town Manager Ed Parvin. He provided them copies of existing ordinances and notes from past discussions to aid in Tuesday night’s review.

The agenda also includes a presentation on an audit of the town’s finances. Council later will receive input and requests for nonprofit funding in next fiscal year’s budget, which is currently in development.

The board’s consent agenda, made up of items that may pass without detailed discussion, includes the scheduling of a public hearing concerning standards for auto garages and the possible removal of a requirement that repairs be conducted inside an enclosed building.

The full agenda is viewable here.

“Advice to children crossing the street: damn the lights. Watch the cars. The lights ain't never killed nobody.”

Jackie "Moms" Mabley (born Loretta Mary Aiken), American standup comedian

"But I had the light," is probably one of the most common phrases spoken after a car accident. Green means go for me, red means stop for them. Before you know it, you're on the phone with your insurance company.

Who doesn't remember an adult reminding them to "look both ways before you cross the street"? It seems like common sense so basic we wouldn't even need to teach it. But it's funny how that lesson, which seems so obvious, is often lost in other areas of our lives.

Take, for instance, the raft of real estate market data you hear every month. What's new construction looking like? How did pre-existing sales do last month? What's it look like in the greater metro area for condo prices? To a certain extent, these are just the traffic lights of real estate. Agents help you look both ways before you act on those "trusted" signals.

Knowing the local market doesn't necessarily mean knowing the big numbers. It means knowing the specifics. It means knowing how to interpret market activity tailored to the needs of my clients. Metaphorically, it's my job to be a good scout and protect client interests as they "cross the market" (and that includes not getting hit by a bus-sized bad move).

Reporting always lags behind reality, though the delay may be small or large. Local agents are the best real-time readers of neighborhoods and inventory. Don’t get too nervous about what you hear in the news. Talk to someone who’s out there making it!

Keep your eyes open our there, and best of luck this week! Get in touch if you’re thinking about making a move soon:

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Free WiFi is great. Almost every coffee shop has it. But have you ever stopped to think: Is this WiFi network safe? Who might be trying to hack my computer? Can people see private information such as email, client information, and my passwords?

The short answer: Yes, it's possible. But now you can protect yourself and your information with a free download called "Hot Spot Shield."

Named by PC Magazine as one of its "Best Free Software Downloads," Hot Spot Shield will:

- Secure your connection with HTTPS encryption

- Protect you from identity theft online

- Hide your IP address for privacy

- Access all content without censorship or firewall blocking

- Protect you from snoopers at hotels, airports, coffee shops, and corporate offices

Both PC and Mac versions are available. Next time you have to get a little work done at at Starbucks, you'll know you're protected.

Check it out here:
http://hotspotshield.com

We’d be happy to meet you safely and securely anywhere you like! Get in touch today if you’re curious about what your home might be worth on today’s market:

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

If you enjoy my posts, please add me as a Facebook Friend

Let’s Network more, here is my LinkedIn Profile

Get my Tweets, here is my Twitter account

Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

What is the definition of a quality client relationship? Philosophically speaking, we believe you must be someone who gives freely, someone who builds life-long bonds by enriching the lives of people with whom you have rapport.

In our experience as an agents, there have been five essential approaches that have helped us maintain and extend long-term connections with our clients:

1. Empathize with people. Imagine, as you're listening to them, that they're not describing their problems, questions, and dreams, but they're describing your own. Make yourself the star of the movie of their life and be aware of how you would feel.

2. Be a part of the solution, even if you cannot solve the problem. Can you solve everybody's problems? Of course not. But you might be able to help them to see a pathway through their problem. This might be in the form of questions that help them think something through. It could be a referral to someone who can help them with their problem. It could even be as simple as a list of good articles to consider.

3. Aim to counsel, don't aim to please. An advisor is a true ally. A "yes man/woman" is completely forgettable (and untrustworthy). Risk short term rejection over a tough truth in order to grow a long term relationship.

4. Teach others how to teach themselves. Don't just give answers. The more you can increase a client's capacity to empower themselves, the more valuable your standing will be in their eyes. Think about it: Do you ever forget your mentors?

5. Give without anticipating return. If you're running a little cost/benefit analysis in your head for every interaction, you're not giving freely. Hesitancy, a stinginess of spirit, and an unwillingness to risk without reward will always cost you more than you think.

I can’t think of a single instance when these approaches haven’t improved the bond between us and our clients. If you value a transformational real estate experience over a purely transactional one, do get in touch with us today!

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

If you enjoy my posts, please add me as a Facebook Friend

Let’s Network more, here is my LinkedIn Profile

Get my Tweets, here is my Twitter account

Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

The convenience of mobile devices also comes with risk. As you check-in, text, share photos, and increasingly run your life on the go, you may inadvertently expose private information or make yourself more likely to be a victim of a crime. Here are four things you should be aware of as you use new mobile and social technology that might spare you expensive or embarrassing lessons:

1. Beware of how often you "check in" through social media.

Apps like Foursquare and websites like Facebook allow you to "check in" when you're out and about in the world, effectively broadcasting where you are... and where you're not. Be especially sensitive to checking in from airports and locations far from home. Enterprising thieves can use this information to target your home or business.

2. Beware of the photos you're sharing.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what are your pictures on Facebook saying to friends, family, and co-workers? Just like checking in when you're out of town, vacation photos posted in real time can inadvertently let people know you're not home. 

3. Remember to log out of public computers

If you've ever checked your email in an internet cafe or hotel computer, did you remember to log out? Closing a browser window isn't usually enough. People who open the browser can often waltz right into your email account because your "session" is still active. Remember to click "log out" or "exit my account" any time you log into private accounts through public machines.

4. Protect your devices

Smart phones now carry the sort of data you used to keep under lock and key in your home office or closet safe. If your devices are lost or stolen, how much of your private information could be exposed through your device?

First and foremost, add password protection to your device in case it is lost. Most have a setting you can activate which forces someone enter a code before access the apps and data on the device.

Second, consider adding an app or service which will track your device via GPS if it is lost or stolen. Depending on your device, there are an array of options to help locate your smart phone if it disappears. To find an app specific to your device, try Googling (without quotation marks): "app tracks stolen [device name]" where [device name] is replaced with your brand of smart phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc.).

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

If you enjoy my posts, please add me as a Facebook Friend

Let’s Network more, here is my LinkedIn Profile

Get my Tweets, here is my Twitter account

Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.