If you’re reading in a feed reader, you won’t notice a thing different here.
But if you’re visiting “in person” you’ll see that I’ve changed the theme/format of the blog. Yet again.
The content will be the same riveting and enthralling writing you’ve come to know and love (Hey! That’s what my Mom says). I’m just changing the “look and feel”.
Why? I dunno. I get bored with it sometimes. Besides, this last theme was getting annoying with all the little glitches since I upgraded to Wordpress v2.5.1. I liked the last theme, but I can only tolerate so much hassle before it’s time to move to another. I’ve pretty much liked all I’ve used (though a couple of notable exceptions were pretty short lived).
Normally I’ll poke around for several days, twiddling with things here and there before I get it how I like it. Right now this theme need some serious work on the side-bar to the right. And I’m not thrilled with the typeface. That will come over the next few days.
Let me know what you think (honestly). I can’t promise if this one will stick around or get replaced by another. But I always appreciate candid feedback!
If you ever want to waste a whole lot of time on the Internet, check out the “Wayback Machine”. You see some archived copies of web sites. It may surprise you how much some have changed over the years. I took it for a spin with Phoenix Real Estate Guy. It was like a stroll down memory lane….
The “Original” (almost. Went through themes weekly in the beginning.) It wasn’t even the Phoenix Real Estate Guy back then, it was BuyGilbertHomes.com. And note the “Photo of the Week” from Jan 2006. Athol really did steal my idea… 
.
Here’s another long running theme. It was very red, but it stuck around for quite some time.
And finally, RIP Freicurv theme, I liked this last one a lot. Who knows, I may resurrect it at some point. (Sorry for the highlighted text, I forgot to take a screen shot, had to use a Google cached page).
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Jim Duncan 06.22.08 at 9:00 am
I like the theme, and have been debating updating mine for the same reasons … I just noticed your footer - “powered by Wordpress, Caffeine and Swearing.” Awesome.
Kelley Koehler the Housechick 06.22.08 at 9:09 am
just checking the new theme… while poking around, noticed on the FAQ page, the question links are nearly illegible.
Athol Kay 06.22.08 at 9:20 am
You so jealous Jay.
Looks good.
Matt Dunlap 06.22.08 at 9:27 am
Your not alone. I have done much research on this and had discovered that at exactly 5 months you start to dislike your current theme, no matter what…At 6 months, you absolutely hate and actually start becoming embarrassed about it. At 6 months, 2 days, you change the theme and make a blog post about why you changed it…
done it many times, myself
monika 06.22.08 at 9:40 am
LOL…I guess we’re all alike. Getting bored with mine too.
Charleston Real Estate Blog 06.22.08 at 9:56 am
Jay, I like the look, 2 columns and the colors. The sidebar will take some time to fill up and then maybe you’ll get around to me
[I'll be back from vacation on the 6th of July]
John Lauber 06.22.08 at 10:02 am
Nice look with your updated site. I just changed mine yesterday/today as well.
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 06.22.08 at 10:08 am
@Jim - glad you liked the footer. I came up with that one about 3:30am…
@Kelley - thanks. Sorta fixed. At least readable, not perfect. The silly plugin had a CSS Style Sheet that was conflicting with the theme SS. kinda weird.
@Athol - I am jealous! I coulda owned it. But that’s what I get for posting a weekly pic four times a year and calling it a “series”.
@Matt, @Monica - glad I’m not alone….
@Howard, believe it or not this was a great practice run for yours. It had been awhile since I”d removed a sidebar, which I did here on the MLS search. Better to blow my own blog up than yours! Your patience is truly appreciated! Now go off-line and enjoy your vacation.
Charleston Real Estate Blog 06.22.08 at 11:05 am
Well, actually we aren’t leaving until Saturday but a week at the beach will be fun. Of course, I’ll have my laptop and cell phone but with my feet in the sand, it should be better than in the office. Don’t worry about blowing up my blog, but that is why I want to know how to back it up
Ashley Drake Gephart 06.22.08 at 12:17 pm
I like the new header. I am hating mine right now. I think Matt hit the nail on the head. I am at the hate it and embarrassed by it stage right now but am working on updating my website before working on the blog. Will poke around here some more and see what all you have going on.
Mariana Wagner 06.22.08 at 12:38 pm
LOVE the new theme… not the font.
Steve Belt 06.22.08 at 12:57 pm
Jay, I like the header and footer, though you can pad that MLS button from the text. The fonts don’t work for me, either, but it seems like that would be a fairly simple fix, once you settle on one you like.
FYI, I can give you my contact CSS to fit in your narrower sidebar…just say HEY.
Nick Bastian 06.22.08 at 2:49 pm
hhmmm.. some more green. As in, the color of $$$$??
Site looks good..
Todd Carpenter 06.22.08 at 3:34 pm
Looking Good. I basically kept my first theme for lenderama for two and a half years. I only changed because I was switching to WordPress. I guess I don’t get bored as easily.
On the other hand, I’d never get a tattoo out of fear that I would get bored with it.
Scottsdale Homes 06.22.08 at 4:05 pm
Your footer is a hoot! Jim nailed that on the first comment here.
I know it might get boring to some, but I am of the mind of branding. And, not fixing what isn’t broken. While I do find my self bored with the designs of my sites at times, I always have to remind myself that many people will visit this month for their first time and perhaps even be as happy with it as I was when it was new.
Kudos for at very least being brave, and keeping your header image to help with your branding.
Matt Pellerin - Realtor
Chris Shouse 06.22.08 at 4:54 pm
I am not a green person so I like the other better.:)
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 06.22.08 at 5:07 pm
Changed the font, I like this one better… it’ll probably change again.
@Steve - the padding around that MLS button is driving me nuts. It looks fine on IE, but not on FF. Love to see your contact form CSS!
@Chris - there’s a Green Movement happening!
Now I’m struggling with the IDX Search functionality. It seems to behave differently between Firefox and Internet Explorer, which makes no sense to me as it’s framed in…
Ugh.
Joseph Ferrara.sellsius 06.22.08 at 5:21 pm
Love the theme, Jay.
Very consumer friendly– Search the MLS button really pops, several “contact me” points– you might consider adding your telephone number/email (bold?) under your name in the right sidebar –some folks may want to call vs filling in the form– and a voice to voice is gold, Jerry, gold.
A recent Copyblogger post suggests dropping Subscribe & using get “Free Updates”– the word subscribe may have monetary overtones to consumers. ( I’d put email button ahead of RSS– more consumer friendly (most consumers dont use RSS)– not a bigee though.)
http://www.copyblogger.com/inc.....bscribers/
Current listings widget is great. I’d repeat the Search the Entire Phoenix MLS beneath the widget — it’s an action point because of the widget.
Footer is a hoot.
You ARE the Phoenix Real Estate guy.
Joe Butinski
Rick Belben 06.22.08 at 6:08 pm
I thought I landed on the wrong site at first. Change is always good but sometimes you just get comfortable with something and the change surprises you.
Green is good - I have always liked that color! I will second that on the footer - the same keeps me going too.
Steve Belt 06.22.08 at 7:05 pm
Font is much better now, and the Search MLS button looks perfect now too (using FF 3.0). I sent you the CSS.
Also, to partially steal the thread and echo Todd, I completely agree about tatoos. I can’t imagine anything that I could consider I would for sure love for the rest of my life, and not regret the next day, much less the next month, year, decade…
Apella 06.22.08 at 8:45 pm
I like the look - think that the font might need to be just a little bit bigger, but the look is cool! Good Luck on the tweeking!
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 06.22.08 at 8:55 pm
Thanks for Everything!
Paula Henry 06.22.08 at 9:56 pm
Jay - We just recentky had this conversation and I have “not” liked mine for a while - but it sounds like a whole lot more work than I am up to right now. I like it! Love the green!
Brad - Dakno Real Estate Marketing 06.22.08 at 10:17 pm
I really like the new look! Just a few things jumped out at me…
The blue in the comment area seems a little out of place from a color scheme standpoint. The font size for the comments may be a touch small for my taste. And finally, I think the left margin for the date eats up too much space. I would rather see that “real estate” be used for the most important part of your blog, the great content you provide!
Jim Gatos 06.22.08 at 11:10 pm
I have the same problem you have LOL.. Can’t seem to leave anything alone after a while.
I am even trying out Feedburner.. Probably won’t stick with it after a day or two…
Oh, well…
Rob Gibbs 06.23.08 at 5:04 am
Hey Jay,
That’s why I use Typepad…I like their easy site development tools. yes, it is a “pay” service, but sometimes you get what you pay for!
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 06.23.08 at 6:59 am
@Paula - it can be a lot of work. But it you can find a template (and there are thousands to chose from) that meets your needs, then it can take 30 seconds. I happen to like messing with and changing templates.
@Brad - I agree about the comments section, that’s next on the list. I go back and forth on the date “real estate”.
@Jim - Feedburner is pretty much a “set it and forget it” thing. Still the best way to track RSS subscribers and set up email subscriptions that I’ve found. Why give ti up?
@Rob - can you modify TP templates to your hearts consent? I’m a control freak and like the idea of owning everything about my blog. It’s definitely not for everyone though.
rummuser 06.23.08 at 9:17 am
I prefer the old version. The comments section however is certainly an improvement.
Dru Bloomfield 06.23.08 at 11:07 am
Kind of like living in a perpetual remodel? You can certainly see the results a lot faster!
Fonts are much better on Firefox. Smaller and rough edged in IE, even with font smoothing on.
Jayson 06.23.08 at 11:54 am
Hmmmm - I don’t know. I like the layout of the footer but I’m not a fan of the new look Jay - seems like I’m the only one
sorry but I don’t like the darker colors. I think it reminds me of our current, soon to be old, website - and I just don’t like it. I liked the last theme and the one before that - more open, more…come, read me.
Yeah I just don’t think it’s as inviting
james wexler 06.23.08 at 12:26 pm
love to see you going “green” … site looks great - james
Keahi Pelayo 06.23.08 at 12:27 pm
Hey! Like the new theme and thanks for keeping it fresh.
Aloha,
Keahi
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 06.23.08 at 1:27 pm
@Dru - “Fonts are much better on Firefox. Smaller and rough edged in IE, even with font smoothing on.”
I have NO IDEA how to fix that…. anyone have a clue?
@Rummuser, @Jayson - *really* appreciate your honesty. Wish I could please everyone. I’m sure I’ll be tweaking it forever, hopefully it’ll become more appealing to you. Please don’t go away!
@James, @Keahi - Thanks!
@everyone - thanks for all the thoughts! If there’s something you’d like to see, don’t be shy! Can’t promise I can get everything in, but will sure look at every idea! This place is for you folks, so let me know!
Jim Gatos 06.23.08 at 5:49 pm
Your new theme is very nice.. However, I can see why you liked Freicurv. I must have tried 30 themes in the past two days.. Freicurv’s very nice and eye catching..
Oh well.. I started with Blogspot two years ago.. Then I moved to Wordpress. It’s not easy picking a theme..
pool services 06.24.08 at 2:49 am
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Jim Gatos 06.24.08 at 3:43 am
@Jay.. Feedburner’s a keeper. Its just that I want to use “MyBrand” with it.. to only display the url I want it to, and my hosting provider has to change the DNS.. No biggie..
Michael Krotchie 06.25.08 at 8:03 am
Hey Jay love the new look, much cleaner! Keep up the good work!
loren nason 07.02.08 at 12:10 am
was it worth the money?
did the right sidebar come out easily
been messing with my other site running Freicurv and having all sorts of difficulty between IE & FF
I hate my theme now
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 07.02.08 at 9:00 am
@loren - as themes go, this one was pretty cheap.
There were some issues with it, particularly between IE and FF….
Taking out the right sidebar was a pain. But not any more than n any other theme I’ve done it on.
I like the “sidebars” available in both the header and footer. You can probably find free themes with these if you look hard enough. For me, it was easier to plunk down the $50 to get something close to what I wanted. Or at least what I want for the moment….