Posts from — October 2009

This past week, Loranger residents laid to rest a hero of their community, Curtis Eugene Blalock, but everyone called him “Jack”. I was there and felt like I was taking part in a Montgomery-Gentry Country Music Video – the kind that makes you proud to be an American and that reminds you of what makes America so great. The Obituary below really doesn’t do service to the man, but I’m not sure how 88 productive years can be summarized into just 1 paragraph. I’ll try to further summarize.

Jack Blalock was a teacher in the Tangi-School system of Agriculture and was a supporter of the FFA in the Tangi-School system. As was testified during the funeral, although Jack and Vertalee couldn’t have children, Jack was a father to the fatherless. Uncle Jack loved kids and coached the local baseball team. He and Vertalee, as a couple, were the kind of people that gave their lives in support of their community. And, their community loved them. I remember attending their 50th Wedding Anniversary in the VFW Hall and it was jammed packed with people. If I’m not mistaken, between the Wake and Funeral, there were over 400 to 500 that came to pay their respects. As I started this in memory, Loranger buried their HERO last week. And, I was reminded once again of “who” the backbone of this great country really is….the hardworking, dedicated citizens that live daily for the commitments they made many years ago! We’re going to miss you, Uncle Jack! Bill Cobb

……And, NO, there was no President Obama there to apologize for what our great Country stands for.

A resident of Loranger and native of Alexandria, he died at 3:40 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, at his home. He was 88 and a retired agriculture teacher of 40 years at Loranger High School, an Army veteran of World War II and coached Little League baseball for many years. He was a member of Oak Grove Church of Christ, the Loranger American Legion post and a past member of Loranger Ruritan Club. Mr. Blalock won numerous medals in the Senior Olympics. He was a Future Farmers of America adviser and avid hunter. He played football, ran track and played baseball at Southeastern Louisiana University. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation will continue at Oak Grove Church of Christ, Independence, on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 10:30 a.m., conducted by Brother Dale Ziebarth. Interment in Loranger Cemetery, Loranger. He is survived by wife of 61 years, Vertalee Hayden Blalock, Loranger; two brothers, Leon Blalock and Charlie Blalock, both of Alexandria; two sisters, Francis McCain, Chicago, and Essie Marie Smith, Alexandria; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by father and mother, James Marion Blalock and Mary Essie Stewart Blalock; a brother, James Marion Blalock Jr.; and two sisters, Maude Jones and Elizabeth Moreaux. For an online guestbook, visit www.mckneelys.com.

http://www.billcobbsuccess.com/ - Local Builder and Giver Back To The Baton Rouge Community Honored By The Baton Rouge Business Report.

Local Builder, RE/MAX Broker and Annual Builder of the Saint Jude Dream Home was honored by the Baton Rouge Business Report on September 8, 2009 with the Article, “Carlos Of All Trades“. Here’s A Snippet from the article:

“Not long ago, Realtor Scott Gaspard represented the buyer of a home that was under construction when the project ran into snag. The area around the site was rezoned, and the surrounding flood elevation level was changed. As a result, the buyer was forced to purchase flood insurance, which increased the cost of the home by several thousand dollars.

Gaspard’s colleague and competitor, Carlos Alvarez, was the builder and the seller. Alvarez and the buyer had agreed on a price, and though it technically wasn’t his problem, he didn’t want to see the buyer take a hit. So Alvarez offered to pick up some of the closing costs.

“Some builders would have bickered over every dollar,” Gaspard says. “But not Carlos. He was willing to work things out because he genuinely wanted to help my client. It’s an example of the kind of guy he is.””

http://www.billcobbsuccess.com/ – Social Media Basics for Real Estate Appraisers. The Louisiana Realtors eNews Digest has a new Social Media Basics Page For Real Estate Professionals. Their page can be found here. Here’s a snippet from their introduction:

“While social media is no longer a new term, it is a relatively new set of media and tools—and a new way of thinking and interacting. There are many types of social media and there are constantly new tools available for you to utilize in your marketing and in your business. Louisiana REALTORS has developed a quick reference page to highlight which social media sites the association has become involved in and how those tools are used to reach membership. This page specifically addresses the sites Active Rain, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and YouTube. Keep in mind that while most social networking sites have extensive Help sections for beginning users; the tips offered on this page can be useful as you incorporate social networking into your business.”

BE SURE FOLLOW THE REAL ESTATE APPRAISER’S SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER PAGE BELOW.

Follow Me On The Real Estate Appraiser’s Social Media Twitter

http://www.batonrougefhaappraisers.com/ - Ten Steps To Maximizing The Greater Baton Rouge Sale Of Your Home

I ran across this article this morning and thought it would be helpful for Greater Baton Rouge home sellers – 10 tips to maximizing sale of your home

Here’s a snippet from the article:

“Pay attention to the exterior first. This is what potential buyers notice. Give priority to home improvements that are visible to the naked eye. Fixing the façade will get you a better price than ensuring the foundation is solid.

Tidy up the yard and garden. If there are signs of neglect most buyers will not even step in. what one needs to do is create a presentation. Make sure there are no tires or wood lying around and any loose shutters or storm drains and gutters are properly fixed.”

Enjoy!

Bill Cobb FHA Appraiser, CREA