Dismiss What Insults Your Soul

"Re-examine all you have been told.

Dismiss what insults your Soul."

~ Walt Whitman

"Booyah."

~ Mark Strüb

COMING SOON :: überCute two/two in HYDE PARK area :: $249k

Get a jump on the competition and schedule a tour with me before it hits the MLS!

• Lee Elementary
• walk to a dozen or more local eateries
• multiple coffee spots
• mere blocks from HEBabe and 24 Hour Fitness UT Edition
• UT shuttle + Metro stops galore

This home is an awesome opportunity to get your toes into the HYDE PARK AREA area at a great price. Email, call or come by my office to see more photos and talk about the special price readers of this blog can claim. That's right, you heard it here. It pays to whittle away your time on the internet!

REALTOR Card With NO Photo?!

ZIDA BORICH is a very talented designer and letterpress printer that I was referred to by another very talented client of mine, Andrew Chan. See samples of both of their work by clicking their names.

Go here to read Zida's blog post about my very special business card.

My response to her post is as follows, and can be seen in the comments section of her blog.

"Zida,

I want to reiterate that I LOVE my cards, and so does anyone and everyone that I would care to make an impression on.
I bashfully admit that when I embarked into this profession, my business cards had a HUGE photo of yours truly on them. It was just the way things were done.
As soon as I got bold and took my photo off (when I started my own company) the feedback was really interesting. My card become memorable because it did NOT have my mug on it. People would say, 'Oh thank GOD you don’t have a glamor shot on here. Why do REALTORS do that?!' It was a great opportunity to jump into a discussion about how my company is different in other ways as well.
For example, it’s not about ME, it’s about YOU the client. I try to take the ego out of the work I am doing, including negotiating. If I do a SUPERB job for the client, they will sell me to their friends and family better than any glamor shot could. And that is the business I am seeking.
I worked on my 'perfect card' for 2+ years with multiple designers. You brought it home for me, and I am really grateful! My card sets the tone, and my service seals the deal. It’s a great combo. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

What do YOU think? Leave a comment and let me know what you think about headshot-driven marketing.

KIDS EAT FREE!

Here is a list of free kids' meals all week long!

Maybe we'll see you tonight at EZ's. [See my review from May] Did I mention they have a clown making balloon animals for tips in addition to the FREE kids meal?

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending May 29

Properties For Sale:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

New listings + 22.95%.

Pendings - 26.05%

Solds + 27.88%

Average Prices:

[compared to the same week in 2009]

Sold average sales prices - 2.74% to $253,860.

In 2009 it was $261,000.

Austin had 11,463 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there is 12,940 active listings!

That is + 12.88% from last year.

What does it all mean?

Austin Market Stats :: Week Ending May 22

The Austin Area Market:

Average sales prices - 4.99% to $253,671.

In 2009 it was $267,005 for the same week.

Austin had 11,581 active listings during the same week in 2009.

Today there is 12,614 active listings!

That is + 8.92%.

Active listings + 8.92%

New listings - 8.76%

Pendings - 31.80%

Sold residential units + 23.11%

MEMORIAL :: My überBrother, Morgan

Morgan Strüb was a catalyst for uniting people in ways that produce interactions greater than the sum of their parts. Morgan was an early pioneer in the concept of Web 2.0 and social media. Via the internet he gathered families from across the globe to celebrate their common bonds. He connected travelers to share inspiration and resources. Out of Morgan’s passion for getting off the beaten path to connect with people in unique and unconventional ways, DIGIHITCH.com was born. The premier hitchhiking site on the web (top search result after wikipedia), it has received millions of hits from its more than 18000 registered members, plus countless other visitors who appreciate it as a hub for hitchhikers and a portal for adventurers of all kinds.

Beyond digihitch.com, Morgan served many others from all walks of life as an effective and prolific webmaster. It could never be told how many lasting friendships have begun on his pages, or how many lives have been improved as a result of his creations.

Morgan Strub was a beloved husband, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend who died on March 28, 2010 at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. He had learned only 9 months earlier that his increasingly dibilitating pain was being caused by the rare form of cancer that would ultimately end his life, Nueroblastoma. His strength and spirit has profoundly inspired all who have encountered Morgan on the road and web or were personally there to support him in his fight (notes and eulogies). He leaves a legacy of writings and internet creations that will shape the online and travel communities for generations to come.

To learn about his life and work, you are encouraged to visit to following sites:

digihitch.com

cancercaw.com

facebook.com/morgan.strub

facebook.com/teammorgan

F BP

I'm watching the latest updates on the oil disaster (redundant, I know). The COO at BP is on CNN giving his upbeat spin on the state of affairs. F BP. Does anyone care what they have to say right now? Show me, don't tell me. You have ZERO credibility.

I like the impact that the internet has had on business. There is a high level of accountability and transparency that comes from everyday people being empowered to fact check things for themselves, communicate with others via blogs, review sites, social networking, etc. I mean, who wants to base a major life decision about whether to use a company or not on blah blah blah marketing produced by the company themselves? We're smarter than that now. Right?

As a business owner, there is nothing I value more than the endorsements of my clients. These are people that have actually done the homework, selected us and then had a first hand experience that they can speak about with credibility. What a concept!

If you have worked with strüb residential at any point, PLEASE tell about it. Add a review to our growing portfolio on our page, YELP, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Local or any of your preferred fact checking sites.

If you have not yet worked with us, we think you should. But don't take our word for it! Check out what others have to say about us. We'd love to hear how we can help.

Babies

I saw this movie last night at Alamo.

It was pointed out to me by a complete stranger that I was the only male in the mostly full auditorium. Ha! I like babies, so what? Watch the trailer and then read on.

So. A couple of things didn't work for me about this experience. For one, the movie was boring. The trailer is great. The movie would be great in the background at a baby shower or the like, but it doesn't play well as a feature. The American baby was actually the most boring. Go figure. I still like babies, however. So don't get me wrong...

The other thing that didn't work for me was the poor service at Alamo on South Lamar that seems to be shaping up into my normal experience at that location. I'm not sure if I'm cursed or they just don't have the same quality control as my favored location- The Village on Anderson Lane. Again, don't get me wrong. I LOVE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE. But I arrived hungry and ordered quickly. But then I got skipped over completely when everyone else in the theater (all women as previously mentioned) got their food. When my waiter finally came back by to ask "You guys doin' alright?" I was pretty grumpy. Food eventually came about an hour into the movie. My last two go rounds weren't exactly the same, but they're running 0/3 on overall satisfaction at that location.

But I'm still a fan. Next time I'll bring a pocket full of tots or something...

P.S. I want to hold your baby. I will never ask, but if you offer I will eagerly accept.