Sunday, October 30, 2022

Skeleton Card Instruction Video


If you see me tomorrow, ask for a treat bag! Otherwise, look for me in the Preston Glen neighborhood of Frisco. I’m dead center and difficult to miss.

Watch the video to learn two ways to assemble the Skeleton Cards in the treat bags.

Happy Halloween!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Home certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #Halloween #skeleton #craft #instructions #TreatBag #TrickOrTreat #treat #video

Friday, October 21, 2022

Make Documents Read To You

Sometimes it’s difficult to sit and read. For some, it’s best to hear the words while reading. Listening to the text allows a reader to power through prepared material without stopping or losing place if interrupted. It can also allow a reader to work on other tasks around the house or office while listening to longer documents.

Many text processing programs like Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and even Google Chrome have text-to-audio functions. An additional benefit of the audio playback is the ability to listen to correspondences before sending or publishing. This can avoid both major mistakes as well as odd word combinations. The listener will hear the problem and has time to fix it before publishing or sending. Headphones or speakers are needed.

Microsoft Word
The Read Aloud button is located under the Review tab. Click the icon. Place the cursor at the location where the program should begin and hit the Play triangle located at the right-hand top of the page.

Click the double triangle pointing to the right to jump to the next paragraph - it goes to the next word after a hard return. Click the double triangle pointing to the left to jump to the beginning of the current paragraph. Click it twice to move to the previous paragraph.

Click on the speaker with a gear to select a male or female voice and use the slider to adjust the speed.

Outlook Email

Outlook is also a Microsoft product. It has the same controls and voices as Word. Expand the viewing window to full screen. While the Home tab is active, Read Aloud is located on the right-hand side of the top ribbon.

Adobe Acrobat reader

The Read Out Loud button is located under View. Click View > Read Out Loud > Activate Read Out Loud (shift + Ctrl + Y) Next, go through these initial steps again: Click View > Read Out Loud

Then, select either “Read This Page Only” (shift + Ctrl + V) or “Read to End of Document” (shift + Ctrl + B). Select (shift + Ctrl + Y) to stop the Read Out Loud function.

If the page is a .jpg or scanned text (essentially a photo of text), Select Edit PDF on the right-hand side of the page in Adobe Acrobat Pro. It will perform an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) of the page and reset the text. Save the document with OCR text after each page converts. It can now go through the Read Out Loud steps listed above.

Google Chrome

Search online for “Google Chrome Read Aloud.” Click the Add to Chrome button at the top right-hand side of the page. When the popup window appears, choose Add to Chrome.

To see it on the toolbar, click on the jigsaw puzzle piece > click the thumbtack icon next to the program. An orange megaphone should appear at the top of the page.

To play, click the megaphone icon. The options of Tab Backward, Play, Stop and Tab forward are available.

If Stop is chosen, a new popup window appears with a Play button and a Settings button (looks like a gear). Choose Play to resume.

Choose the gear button to change the Voice, Speed, Pitch, Volume and Text Highlighting. Close the popup window to save the adjusted settings.

YouTube Bonus

Don’t have time for a 2-hour presentation? Hear the presentation in 90 minutes instead!

Open a preferred video. Click on the gear button located at the lower right-hand corner of the video > click Playback Speed > select speed up to 2X > video will adjust with minimal change to pitch. Incidentally, for a good laugh, set it on .25 speed and the narrators will sound drunk. Ads will play at normal speed.

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Home certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #IOV #InformationOfValue #ReadAloud #ReadOutLoud #TextToSpeech #contracts #tool #OCR

John Moline's Memorial Mass

Thank you to everyone who attended and live streamed John Moline’s memorial yesterday. Our entire family is deeply grateful for your outpouring of love and sympathy. We are honored that you took time out of your lives and sometimes drove hundreds of miles to honor this great man.

If you want to see the memorial mass again, here is the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN7goDZj6jE

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

John Douglas Moline (1954-2022)


John Douglas Moline – born and raised as an only child in La Grange Park, IL and most recently residing in Plano TX – passed away on Oct. 15, 2022. "Pop Pop" - as he was known to the family - was 68 years old.

Friends and colleagues loved and respected him for his quiet empathy, intense curiosity, eye toward aesthetics, quick mind, strong convictions, and ability to support those around him. He had the ability to design, construct and repair anything elaborate with elegance.

Some of his happiest moments were spent hiking and visiting nature in state and national parks. He hiked through Canada for months with his friend Steve Schaffer in his youth. He most recently toured for two years with a travel trailer, his beloved wife of 42 years and their faithful dog, Remington, throughout Texas and surrounding states.

He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Scenic Design. This informed and guided his love of construction and design. He was particularly fond of Art Deco and almost anything from the 1950s. He had an uncanny ability to restore and repair exotic cars from the 1960s.

Shortly after graduation, he met the love of his life, Suellen Hancock Moline. They eventually had a home built in an open field in the country which grew around them to be the Plano suburb we recognize today. He was an ever-willing handyman to his neighbors in need. They adored those early evenings by the pool as hot air balloons would drift low over the fields and passengers would shout greetings from above.

He worked and retired after 30 years as a postal carrier in The Colony. He supported his community by diligently completing his duty while he also supported and defended his colleagues as the American Postal Workers Union local shop steward.

He was a doting father to his only daughter Margaux Moline of Plano. He kept their world spinning by quietly and respectfully supporting the Plano FFA and cheerleading squads throughout her education in the Plano ISD. He could easily switch gears from designing glitter-coated signs to shoveling pig stalls. He was the kind of dad every girl deserves.

John is survived by his loving wife Suellen Moline; daughter Margaux Moline; grandchildren Waylon Moline and Phoenix Moline; brother-in-law Mark Hancock and sister-in-law Fayrouz Hancock. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth Brillisour Moline and Lawrence Moline.

There will be a memorial mass to celebrate John’s life on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 4 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano TX 75023.

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Lux Market Watch for Sept. 2022


The luxury market had decreases in Active Option Contract, Pending and Closed properties while it was flat in Active Listings.

New Listings have flattened and remain above Closed Properties. With a new round of interest rate increases, the lux market trajectories diverged rather than slipping into an inverted market again. Buyer demand has dropped some while seller pricing is inflated and the primary cause of excess inventory. In other words, there are plenty of buyers for properly priced and marketed homes.

The property with the highest list price to enter the market this month is a completed new construction home in the Preston Hollow vicinity. It is listed at $12,999,000. It’s a 10,888 Sq. Ft. modern contemporary style 7 bed, 7.3 bath house with a 10-car garage, pool and tiered decks on .65 acres.

The highest closed luxury property this month was last listed at $9.135 million. It is a 12,612 Sq. Ft. Mediterranean style estate built in 2009 with 5 bed, 6.2 bath with a gourmet kitchen, outdoor kitchen, cabana, pool, private guest house, and four garage spaces on 1.1 acres in Preston Hollow.

There are currently 52 Active luxury lease properties in North Texas with list prices of $10,000 or more per month (up from 38 on 1 Oct. 2022). The highest listing price for a lease is a 5 bed, 5.1 bath with a 3-car garage, a pool on 1 acre in Preston Trails of Dallas for $30,000 monthly.

The highest closed lease for the month was in the Glenwyck Farms Addition of Westlake and last listed for $21,000 per month.

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, Certified New Home Sales
214-862-7212 (call or text)
DFWmark@kw.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #MarketWatch #luxury #Lux #flat #RateIncreases #Dallas #decreases #PrestonHollow

Friday, October 7, 2022

Open House in Cross Roads on Sunday

Open House
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
11301 Pentridge Cir., Cross Roads
Listed at $750,000
MLS# 20122330
Listed by Jordan David

This NEVER OCCUPIED 3,839 sq. ft. Bloomfield Home has 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths, a study, formal dining, breakfast room, walk-in pantry, media room, game room, 3-car garage, covered patios on an almost half-acre lot in Cross Roads.

The beautiful open-concept Bellflower floor plan with multiple upgrades is on a cul-de-sac. The study is off the foyer with a nearby half bath. Formal dining can double as a conference room. The kitchen has a huge island with quartz countertops and sink, gas cooktop, stainless steel appliances and a walk-in pantry. The ground level primary suite has a spacious walk-in closet that connects to laundry room, separate vanities, shower and garden tub. Guest ensuite is also located downstairs.

Upstairs has 2 bedrooms with a Hollywood bathroom, game room and media room. The backyard has room for a pool. Get this new construction home by a renown builder without the wait!

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Home certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #OpenHouse #NeverOccupied #CrossRoads #3CarGarage #DentonCounty #OakHillRanch #gameroom #MediaRoom

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Open House in Bluewood on Saturday

Open House
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022
From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
2601 Warbler Rd., Celina 75009
Listed at $569,000
MLS# 20165665
Listed by Rachel Macey

This 2,939 sq. ft. home in Celina has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, media room, game room, covered patio and a large family room separated from the front living room, which could be used as an office.

The east-facing DR Horton home was completed this year and was NEVER OCCUPIED. The house features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and a large breakfast bar with the sink placed to the left of the gas range. Front living room, master suite, guest bedroom, full guest bath and laundry are all conveniently located on the first floor. Upstairs features two bedrooms, full bath, game room and a media room.

The move-in ready house is on an outside corner lot of the Bluewood community with no back neighbor and plenty of room for a future pool or play set. It’s conveniently located feet from Collin College’s Celina Campus and near the community pool, playgrounds, trails, fishing pond and O’Dell Elementary School in the Celina ISD.

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Home certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #OpenHouse #NeverOccupied #Celina #CelinaISD #CollinCounty #Bluewood #gameroom #MediaRoom

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Pie Party - Save The Date!


The Keller Williams North Country
Annual Pie Party is on
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022

Any of my clients who closed a deal with me this year can pick up a pie. Anyone who has referred a client to me, can ALSO come get a pie for each deal closed with me this year.

The pie party is more than just pies. Santa will visit, and we’ll make professional photos of your family for the holidays. You’ll get the digital photos in time for your winter greeting cards. We will have treats and other exciting surprises too!

There’s Still Time!
Know an associate or family member who wants to buy or sell residential property? Refer them to me! Let’s get both of you some pies! Got 20 friends who need houses quickly? We can get it done, and you can pick up a pie for each deal! The best time is NOW!

I've Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #PieParty #Santa #pie #food #ClientParty #Celina #KWNC #annual

Welcome to the DFWmark Blog!

Welcome to the DFWmark Blog! This is a collection of content by Mark M. Hancock, a REALTOR with Keller Williams North County in Celina...