Notes From Readers: Expand 'Cost vs. Value Report'

I always enjoy your annual “Cost vs. Value Report” (December 2003, page 32), and this year was no exception. It’s a nice tool to use when working with sellers who are reluctant to complete recommended updates that will make for a much speedier sale.

I’d like to see Louisville, Ky., included in the data. Since the recent merger of our city and Jefferson County governments, we’re the 16th largest city in the nation. It’s a thriving community with a great standard of living that’s continually attracting new businesses and families. Please consider adding us to your annual report.
—Pat Gosnell, Semonin, REALTORS®, Louisville, Ky.

Order ‘Report’ reprints: Help your clients and customers learn what various remodeling projects will recoup them at resale by ordering reprints of the complete “2003 Cost Vs. Value Report”—15 projects in 35 markets—for $5 (plus shipping).

Disappointing image

The “25 most influential people in real estate” (December 2003, page 41) is extremely depressing to me. Did your editorial staff think about the impact of featuring a picture of four white men of a certain age in your table of contents with the tag line, “The people who shape your industry?” Did you think again when you placed all the men of color on one page toward the end of the article?

You’ve made it very clear to me, an African-American woman recently appointed a director of the California Association of REALTORS® and a top-producing salesperson, that NAR is still an old boys club.
—Linda Harrison, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate Services, San Francisco

Editor’s note: We organized the “25 most influential” presentation this way: The heads of brokerages were placed in one group, educators in another group, NAR leaders in a third group, and housing opportunity leaders in a fourth. Because there’s overlap among the groups—those who fell into the category of NAR leader, for example, could also easily be called educators—we made a decision not to overtly identify the groupings. It wasn’t our intention to offend any gender or group. Regarding the number of women on the list, we believe it’s only a matter of time before women’s influence is felt on a national scale.

‘World of knowledge’

The Negotiating section of your Web site, REALTOR® Magazine Online, is totally awesome! The online magazine provides a world of knowledge to everyone who is serious about the real estate business.
—Portia S. Campbell, e-PRO®, Exit Team Realty, Coral Springs, Fla.

Clarification

The New England lobster dinner for two from Lobster Tail, mentioned in the November 2003 gift guide (“For me???” page 61), includes two 1.5-pound lobsters.