Don’t knock it till you try it
I lived in England for 6 months back in 2000 and that was when I discovered this lovely dish - jacket potatoes.
This one, my favorite, is filled with a mayonnaise salad of tuna and corn.
I know, I know, it sounds really gross but I can guarantee you it is absolutely delish!
Tell me about some of your favorite (or strange) foods.
If you could just get your hands on it.
The thing that eludes you.
The thing, that if you had it, everything would be better.
The thing you are missing in life.
So you grasp and cling just like this giant claw crane game.
You set it all up perfectly, push the button and pray. And as predicted the claw half-heartedly grabs at the object of your desire and lets go at the last minute.
You knew the odds, but you played anyway.
Have you ever won at this game?
I have, twice in a row believe it or not.
And I can tell you the toys are not nearly as cuddly as they look. Once in your arms they lack the quality you had hoped.
They were just shiny objects behind the glass
So back to the beginning of this post.
That thing you want so badly, is it all it’s cracked up to be?
Or is it like the stuffed flamingo at the arcade- hollow, fake and won by chance.
Focus on the things on this side of the glass. I think you might find there is just so much to be grateful for.
With gratitude.
Say what?
I’m telling you, there are some days that I cannot believe the things I see in this profession.
Several years ago, I got a call from the sister of one of my clients late into the evening. We had met once, but I didn’t really know her well.
She started out saying she was so sorry to be calling but I am the only person she knows in Grand County. Oh dear, where is this going, I thought to myself.
She followed up by saying that she needed a huge favor…. would I possibly be able to bail her son out of jail.
Huh?
He had been arrested for driving drunk over Trail Ridge Road and she just didn’t want him to spend the night in a jail cell. She didn’t ask me to put him up at my house but if I had offered I don’t think she would have said no.
Good grief, I don’t think that is duty that real estate agents are required to perform but some people will ask anyway!
Here are the three reasons your home is not sold yet.
Price: buyers know the market. They have access to tons of data online and while the market is still crazy buyers are not in the mood to grossly overpay for your home.
Condition: too small, too dated, too smelly, major repairs, dysfunctional floor plan, you get the picture.
Location: too close to the road, in town, out of town, on a mountain, in a valley, again, you get the picture.
Two of these things you can change, one you cannot. So if your home is not selling you will need to have a closer look at and and see what adjustments need to be made.
3 small home improvements that yield BIG returns for sellers
Paint the interior of your home a popular but neutral color. Repose Grey by Sherwin Williams or Oyster Pearl by Valspar are great options. Now I can hear you arguing with me - “its just paint, the buyer can choose their own colors and paint it themselves”. Here’s the issue, when the buyer sees the navy blue walls in your kids room they add it to their “to-do list” which means less money for you.
Some elements of home staging. A new rug, beautifully framed artwork (this doesn’t have to break the bank), a few strategically placed artificial (or real plants). A couple hundred will make a huge difference if the right pieces are purchased. The thrift store and a can of spray paint can go a long way too. For inspiration check out Pinterest.
Deep clean and declutter. This is probably the most important aspect. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Have a trusted friend over to help you “see” your everyday clutter.
How to pick the right offer when selling your home.
This might come as a shock, but the highest price is not always the right offer to accept when selling your home. There are other major factors to consider.
How is the buyer paying for your home?
Cash or loan?
When do they want to close?
Are they flexible if you need to stay in your home for a month after closing/
Do they have any major contingencies, such as having to sell another home before buying yours?
When evaluating offers, I present my sellers with a spreadsheet of the nuts and bolts of the offer and then we talk about the pros and cons of each offer.
Here’s a quick test, which offer would you pick
Offer A: $20,000 over asking, buyers have a small downpayment and need possession the day of closing. Property will need to appraise for the over asking purchase price.
Offer B: $5000 under asking price but buyer is cash, can close in 15 days and will rent back to you for 30 days after closing.
The goal isn’t always to accept the highest offer, but to maximize your chances of getting to the day of closing.
I really love my job. I know lots of people feel that way but for me there are so many gratifying aspects of real estate.
And testimonials like this are what keep me coming back on the hard days.
If we have worked together in the past just know that I value our relationship and your trust in me. I am forever grateful.
With gratitude.
Have you been thinking about buying a home?
Avoid these common buyer pit falls.
1. Not getting pre-approved. This is probably the single most important step. You will want to understand the financial aspect of purchasing before you step foot in any homes.
2. Maxing out your budget. Just because you get approved for $500K doesn’t necessarily mean you should spend that much. Make sure you feel totally comfortable with your monthly mortgage payment which includes principal, interest, property taxes and home owners insurance.
3. Not paying attention to the fine print. Your home will likely be the largest purchase of your life. Make sure you understand the process with the help of your Realtor and lender.
4. Thinking with your instead of your mind. You might have dreamed of this moment for years. Make sure your decisions come from a place of logic not emotion.
5. Not understanding the other expenses that are associated with home ownership. These might include private mortgage insurance, home owners association dues, utilities, special taxes or assessments.
6. Not protecting your credit score. If you have ever done any work on your score you know how easily it can go and how hard it is to get it to go . Make sure you protect that score because it can be one of the deciding factors of whether or not you qualify for a home loan.
Are you a first time buyer, first time seller, downsizing, upsizing?
I’ve got a guide for that. With step by step and in-depth explanations.
After almost 2 decades in real estate I have discovered that people who fall into these categories have many of the same pain points.
First time home buyers experience fear of the unknown.
First time sellers are unfamiliar with the process.
Both up-sizers and down-sizers have concerns about logistics.
Do you fall into any of these categories?
I would love to share my knowledge with you. Please comment below or send me a private message.
“I just called the agent on the sign.”
I hear this all the time.
Buyers that end up with the agent on the sign because they didn’t know they had a choice.
Here’s the deal.
You should interview and hire an agent to help you buy your home just as a seller interviews and hires an agent to help them sell their home.
This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the “agent on the sign”. I just believe you owe it to yourself to make a CHOICE about the matter versus someone you ended up with by CHANCE.
With gratitude.
Show me the money!
Let’s talk about earnest money. When a buyer makes an offer on a property, earnest money is tendered shortly there after.
If everything goes as planned, the earnest money is applied towards the purchase price at closing.
However, sometimes the wheels fall off the bus! Sometimes a buyer might decide to cancel their contract, typically this is because of inspection items.
If this happens, and the buyer cancels before their specified deadlines, their earnest money is 100% refundable.
So, when might the earnest money be non-refundableOnly if a buyer passes their loan approval deadline and cannot or will not close.
This is very rare and in 700+ transactions have only had a handful of buyers end up losing their earnest money.
Questions Please leave them in the comments or DM me.
The market is feeling a bit bananas lately And sellers are not sure where to price their home. Here’s a little insight.
You have choices when pricing your home:
Test the market. This strategy works in a rapidly rising market because you are pricing ahead of the market with the hopes that the market will meet or surpass your list price
Price it right. This falls right into the range of what market comparables tell us the home is worth. Not too high, not too low.
Is this sounding a little like Goldilocks and the Thr3
3. Strategically aggressive price. This is the price range that attracts multiple offers and offers over asking price.
There is no right or wrong answer but as the market continues to evolve strategy 3 is going to be more and more effective. Please leave any questions below.
“When someone is broken, don’t try and fix them. (You can’t.)
When someone is hurting, don’t attempt to take away their pain. (You can’t.)
Instead, love them by walking beside them in the hurt. (You can.)
Because sometimes what people need is simply to know they aren’t alone” by Jenny Albers
This is such a good reminder but sometimes feels hard to implement. Its so natural for us to want to “fix” things or say the right words.
But when tragedy hits, there are no right words. And while it can feel counterproductive and maybe trivial, sometimes the best thing to do is just sit with someone in their grief and be that shoulder to lean into.
With gratitude.
Real estate is actually quite simple.
A home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to sell for. Of course there are other factors in play but at the end of that day that is the matrix.
And therefore, the market itself dictates the pace and value of property. As we move into a more balance market this is becoming more and more apparent.
And what history tells us over time is that real estate is one of the safest and most profitable investments.
Do you want to know more about buying or selling? Reach out to me with your questions, I am here to help!
LET’S TALK ABOUT POOP!
Did I get your attention
Many of the homes in our area are on septic systems. This means the waste from the drains and toilets in the home travel to a tank.
The septic system is a crucial element of the home and not one that people like to think about.
Let’s be real, if it's working you kinda forget it's there. When it's not working, you’re faced with a very crappy situation! If you catch my drift.
I could have fun with puns all day with this topic!
In this video I’ll discuss the importance of getting a septic inspection when purchasing a new home.
A very wise man once told me...
You can’t be mad and skip at the same time.
Guess what?
It’s 100% accurate.
Go ahead give it a try. Next time you are really hot under the collar just start skipping.
I guarantee you not only won’t be mad anymore, you probably will not be able to contain your laughter.
I lost a potential listing the other day. They decided to go with someone else which is totally okay. You can’t win them all, right?!
In this market it’s incredibly hard to price property. Homes are regularly going for over asking and often with multiple offers.
Sometimes I feel like an agent turned fortune teller, trying to predict the future for my clients.
I am a data freak. In other words, I rely on the data to guide me. So when you ask me to list your home, I am coming prepared with the facts.
What are homes selling for?
How long are they on the market?
What’s the price per square foot?
What’s the available inventory?
How much more can I add to the list price knowing the current market conditions?
At the end of the day, I told these sellers a list price they didn’t like.
I want all my clients, both buyers and sellers, to feel heard, not pressured and above all respected. But part of my job is delivering professional advice.
I can promise you I won’t blow smoke.
I will tell you the straight facts.
I value transparency and being honest.
I will give you my honest opinion on price but ultimately the the list price is up to you and I will likely support it even if its over what I think is appropriate.
And I will advocate for you every step of the way. With gratitude.
So…. How long does it actually take to buy a house?
A week?
A month?
Six months?
And what does the process look like anyway?
Well hopefully this video will answer some of that for you.
If you are thinking about buying a home these are some of the expenses you should plan for.
Some of these are fairly fixed and some vary based on purchase price and other factors.
Here’s a quick run down for you:
Home inspection $400 - $1000 (optional) Appraisal $600 - $1200 (mandatory)
Title fees $400 - $600 (mandatory)
Survey $500 - $700 (optional)
Reach out with questions
A hunk of clay. Soft, malleable and unassuming.
Yet, center that piece of clay on the wheel and with careful movements and patience you can create a masterpiece.
I took pottery in college, this is one of my creations.
It was probably my very favorite class…. ever.
One thing you need to know about pottery - you CANNOT be in a rush. See, if you don’t get the clay centered you have no chance of making anything but a mess.
As a twenty something I didn’t know much about “being present” or “finding inner peace”. But I do know that when I sat at the wheel with the clay swirling between my hands that I went to another place.
I would lose track of time, and the room would go dim and quiet.
Just me and the clay.
Only after many failures do you know the moment the clay is ready to become something else.
Ready to become something that is imagined in your mind and flows from your hands into the clay.
Even if you don’t consider yourself “artsy” or “creative” if you ever have a chance to give pottery a whirl I would so recommend it (pun intended).
But as I said you will have to have patience, something all of us could practice more of.
