Happy Birthday...

...to my precious hubby Ricky!  He's 52 today...yes, he was born on St. Patrick's Day...very appropriate!  Have a beautiful day and thanks for being you sweet man!

It's Been Crazy...

...so the reason for not posting regularly here on my blog! Not only has the real estate business been busy in our market area, but myself and a friend of mine (and former co-worker at Holden & Company) Micah Holden have spent the last five weeks or so putting together a new business! It is an art cooperative located in downtown Searcy, Arkansas named Second Saturday Studio! The building we are located in is part of the Main Street Searcy program and we are tickled to have their help and support.

We are starting out only opening on the Second Saturday of each month, hence the name, and had our first one this past Saturday...we had about 300 come through the doors of our little 435 square foot space and we are so grateful...Searcy is not exactly known for it's culture I have to say, but we are trying! It is amazing how many fellow artists we have met starting this venture and we talk to more everyday. They are like we were...doing something they love without a place to show it off and sell it...we hope to change that, so while this blog is going to be a more personal one, I will still be sharing art pieces as completed, before they are taken down to be displayed in the studio...please join me in supporting the artists from in and around our community and pop on over to secondsaturdaystudio.blogspot.com to check it out...thanks so much!

Downtown Studio Info Now Available!

Email me at kelly@searcyhomes.com and I will forward it to you! Thanks for your interest! Kelly

Announcing.....

...The formation of Second Saturday Studio!

What: An art and handmade retail space for local artists to come together and sell their work!

Where: 213 W. Arch Street in downtown Searcy, AR 72143

When: The SECOND SATURDAY of each month, 9 AM TO 5 PM

If you are interested in joining us, please send a short bio and five photos of work that best represents what you will be showing and selling. The artists will be juried, as we are limited on space! There will be a monthly fee of $50-$75 per artist (depending on participation) and a six-month commitment is required. All artists will be given a specific amount of space (once again depending on participation) and will receive 90% of their sales proceeds, less any credit card fees. You need not be present on the appointed Saturday, however you are encouraged to! The 10% SSS keeps will help to cover advertising materials and studio supplies. We want this to be a great success and grow into something big! As a participating artist, you will have a vote in any changes that are made at the end of the six month period. We look forward to hearing from you. We are ready to get started, so e-mail us today!

Kelly VanHook and Micah Holden

Please send bio and photos to kelly@searcyhomes.

I'm Leaving, On a Jet Plane...

...thanks to my sweet brother Scott...he knew the only way I'd fly out to see him in San Francisco was to just book me a ticket...so I'm going...hate to fly, period, but he's worth it. Wish me luck and if you have any suggestions on places I MUST see, let me know! I've sent him a list already and am prepared to go non-stop for the whole week! Hopefully I will come back very motivated and get back to doing some paintings...

We are still in limbo waiting on what's going to happen with the building in downtown Searcy, but hopefully that may be cleared up by the time I get back as well! I'll post again soon...

I Have Not Fallen Off the Face of the Earth...

...just yet! We have just been covered up since the changeover at work from Coldwell Banker Complete to Dalrymple Residential!!! We are now, however, going to get back on the downtown project after next week...Stuart came up with a great name suggestion, Artisan Alley, but if you think of something cool that may work, send it my way! We are also going to be needing someone fantastic to help run the place, so if you know of anyone, direct them to us! Be back soon...

I've Been a Loser...But With Good Reason...

...sorry I have not posted in what I've found to be in over 2 months!!! Time sure flies, especially when your busy! Per the following announcement below, I have been so crazy at work, I've had to let everything else go, but I promise to do better after the next week or so when all is calm!!!

We want to let you about some exciting changes in our real estate company! First off, as some of you may already know, Stuart Dalrymple has purchased our company back, with Sherry Conley staying on as an Executive Broker, along with myself! We are so excited to announce our name change and new owner, I especially, as I worked for Stuart originally when I became licensed as a Sales Associate back in 2002. We are moving in a new direction as an independent brokerage and the reason why this was our decision as a team is simple!

Back in the mid 1990’s, the internet was on fire, but out of reach for small offices and companies, which spawned a real estate franchise boom! Corporate franchises could offer them an internet presence that they couldn’t afford on their own. It worked wonderfully for years, but as the internet has become more and more accessible to everyone, a lot of us have come to realize that we are paying way too much in franchise fees, but not receiving the attention from the corporate world like they do in major metropolitan cities. We were paying the same fees as they were, but not receiving the benefits. Nationally, trends in real estate offices are heading back to independent brokerages, just like we have chosen to do. What does that mean for you as a potential seller? It gives us more revenue to spend on our local advertising, which will help us assist YOU in meeting the goal of getting your property SOLD! It will also help us gain more of the market share and a much broader internet audience! We are the only branded company in Searcy, Arkansas on Realtor.com, who accounts for 85% of all real estate searches!

We are also pleased to announce that Terri Milligan is now affiliated with us here at Dalrymple Residential! Terri comes to us from Exit Natural State in Searcy, where she has been licensed since 2006. Terri is a lifelong resident of Searcy, has been married to Mike for 21 years and has 3 children, Katie, Reed and Marshall. She has a Bachelor of Art’s degree from UALR and has done design work since 2001. She is a Life Member with the Junior Auxiliary of Searcy and also a member of the First United Methodist Church. Terri currently serves as the Secretary on the Searcy Board of Realtors. She is a recipient of the ARA Silver Award, a member of the National Association of Realtors and has earned the E-Pro and GRI designations. We are also excited to let you know that we will be co-listing agents on all of our listings! We feel like the experience, the contacts and the involvement in the community will be an asset to all of our clients. We will both continue to work with buyers as well, so if you know anyone looking to list or sell, be rest assured, we will take great care of them in that area as well! Please note changes to our email addresses of kelly@searcyhomes.com and terri@searcyhomes.com and send us your updated info, as we are establishing a shared database to keep you informed of changes in our real estate market. Call or email us at anytime…we are here for you and Dalrymple Residential is on the right track to make a difference in our community!

Terri has been a wonderful friend of mine for years...she is also a very talented fellow artist, we both love to golf, cook and hang out with friends and family. I look so forward to our working together! Have a great day everyone...