Posts Tagged ‘Apache Junction’
The new Key is here! (Repeat)
Today I stepped into the future…ish.
As Realtors here in AZ, my wife Kathy and I depend on our MLS access to show homes, list homes, and to track who has seen our listings. In the old days, everyone had an actual key, and someone losing their key was a major problem…all the lockboxes would have to be manually re-keyed, every time!
Recently, we’ve been using the GE Supra e-key. This system depends on the key itself connecting to the network, and telling everyone where that key was during that day. The listing agents would get notice of buyers viewing the house, and they can request feedback from the buyer’s agents. It was a great system, but there was a weak link. The only way the key could connect to the network was through a phone line…not a digital line like Vonage or Magic Jack, but a real live copper wire landline like Qwest. Since we had long since moved our Fax services to MyFax, the $100 a month Qwest bill was being paid just to keep our keys updated.
I had been hearing rumors about a new wireless key that was being rolled out in other states, and when Qwest had another outage (4th this year!) I started scrambling to find a way to update our keys that did not involve borrowing access to someone’s copper wire phone for 10 minutes. While Googling AZ MLS Keys, I came across a note on another broker’s website that one of their agents had gotten the newest version of the key, the GE Activekey, and that all their agents should upgrade. The ARMLS website doesn’t mention the upgrade, or the fact that their offices have moved. Flexmls, our Web tool for ARMLS, had a link to a pdf doc “explaining” the transition. Unfortunately it was only a flier that said the upgrade was coming soon!
I called ARMLS support, and they gave me the number for new ARMLS service center…at the Mesa location of the South East Valley Regional Association of REALTORS (SEVRAR). (Wow, I hadn’t thought to check their website! They had a link to the same PDF document about the pending upgrade.) The numbers I was given for the ARMLS center were wrong, so I called SEVRAR and asked about the new ActiveKeys. They let me know that the key exchange was going on, and had been for some time! All I needed was to bring in the old key and exchange it for the new one. Considering the state of the saga so far, I made it to Mesa within the hour and exchanged the key.
Incidentally, the ladies at the ARMLS center let me know that volume is very low so far, ( ya think?!) and that they are just letting word get out to avoid setting up a schedule to roll the new keys out. A sloppy but effective way to limit traffic, I guess!
If you’re involved in real estate, you should get out and get your new key ASAP, it’s a big improvement over the old model, despite the fact that it seems to be the exact same device, in a different case. The new key connects via cellular tower every few minutes and uploads your information to the same network as the old key. No more land-lines!!
That brings me to the only issues I have with the new device…its appearance! I guess they got a lot of feedback that the old style was too small and was easy to lose, and the numbers were too hard to read, anyway, it’s now much larger, white with giant blue buttons. Giant backlighting and a flashlight make it even cheesier, and around our office we call them “the Jitterbug keys”, after that phone that’s designed for seniors? The one with the TV commercials?
The ActiveKey… or the Jitterbug?
Jim Allyn
Broker
Allyn and Associates
480-296-4304
Edited: July 28th, 2010
Choosing Low-water Plants - Xeriscape
In most parts of Arizona water is a precious commodity, making xeriscaping or xerigardening an essential part of successful gardening in Arizona. Here are a few ideas that can get you started on that low-water garden.
Indigenous or native plants will likely need less supplemental moisture most years than non-native species. The native species have evolved under the local conditions and usually have well developed mechanisms for surviving extremes in the weather. In addition to being well adapted, native plants can be some of the most beautiful highlights of your garden.
This doesn’t mean you’re limited to native plants or your typical low-water plants such as cacti, succulents or narrow leafed evergreens. There are plants found growing in coastal or mountainous regions that have developed mechanisms for dealing with extremely sandy, excessively well-drained soils, or rocky cold soils in which moisture is limited for months at a time.
There are also many herbs that adapt well to our arid conditions and are beautiful as accents or centerpieces of your garden.
Some plants adapted to sunny, dry conditions are: Yucca gloriosa, Broom, Yarrow, Nasturtium, California Poppy, Blanket flower, Sedum, Gold Dust (Alyssum), Moss Rose (Portulaca), Juniper, Artemisia, Lavender, Sage, Iris, Thyme, Crocus, and Evening Primrose.
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Edited: January 13th, 2009
Superstition Mountain Lore
As long as people have been living in and around the Superstitions, they have been telling stories about the mountains. It seems that no matter who has lived here, the mountains have added the elements of mystery, magic and wonder to their lives as well as to the stories they tell.
The Hopi believe that there was an earth-cleansing flood in the early days of the world, and that the “Ark” of the faithful came to rest on top of these mountains after that flood.
The Apache refer to these mountains as being the “home of the Thunder God”, and believe that they are sacred to this day.
The Pima, who believe that their entire race, with the exception of one hunting party, was destroyed as punishment for their pride, see the mountain as the place that the spirits of the dead are kept, and as a wall between them and the riches that were left for them by the creators of their world.
The Spaniards, who were some of the first new world explorers of this area, are believed to have mined in these mountains in search of Gold.
That same gold is said to have been the source of the mountain’s most famous legend.
The “Lost Dutchman” mine of Jacob Waltz has been the source of at least a hundred books, and still attracts miners, historians and mystery fans to the area.
Modern people come here in search of a wide variety of things as well. Some come for the unbelievable hiking and views, some for the sense of history in the area, or for the great food and recreation that is available nearby, and some still search for the lost gold that is said to lie “up there” somewhere.
So whether you’re here to visit, still looking for a great destination, or if you’re already here to stay, I’m sure the mountain will leave you with a story or two to tell!
If you have a favorite legend, or if you have a story to pass on, (or if you know where the mine is!) drop us a line at news@allynassociates.com
and we’ll get right on it!
Edited: January 10th, 2009