That One Thing

What’s your “One Thing”?

Okay, a little background here. By “One Thing” I mean the thing you get up for in the morning and go to work.

The thing that drives you.

The thing that is always front and center.

The thing that you don’t make compromises for.

I dug deep a few years ago to figure out my “One Thing”. Specifically the One Thing that drove my ambition and drive at work.

On the surface it was providing for my family and helping my clients with their real estate goals and dreams.

But I knew there had to be something else, something deeper. So I took an even deeper dive, and finally found what motivated my One Thing.

It’s very personal and raw, but it was so worth the personal journey to discover this about myself. So I would encourage you to take some time with this question. It only took me 14 years in the business to figure out!

With gratitude.

How do you relax?

OMMMMMM.

What do you do to relax?

To get to your “Calgon Take Me Away” place?

Your zen moment?

So I am no master but deep breathing always helps up front and then I do some helpful “self talk”.

I have also found that meditation apps such as Headspace and Abide are excellent for those (like me) that have trouble shutting up the noise that floats between my two ears.

How about you?

Want to know more about real estate?

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!

Network of excellent agents

Being a “local” has become a somewhat territorial statement.

“I’m a local so I know better, have priority or get to complain about all the non-locals”.

This is kinda BS in my opinion, after all we are all “locals” of planet earth At least I think so

But there is a situation where being a local is super important.

Your real estate agent.

I often have clients ask me to help them buy or sell in other areas such as Denver or Grand Junction. And while my real estate license is good for the entire state of Colorado, I don’t feel I am providing the best service possible by helping buyers and sellers in areas I don’t know.

If you are not a local you might not know about the large employer that’s about to relocate, or the proposed airport expansion or areas notorious for bad water or shifting soils.

It is so flattering that my clients want to “take me with them” to their new area. And while I cannot be their boots on the ground agent, I’m more than happy to interview agents in other areas and find a great fit - a local who knows their community and can look out for your best interests.

My network of excellent agents is literally worldwide! So if you need any agent in another area, please let me know. It would be my pleasure to assist you.

Selling Your Home? EYES HERE

The 5 costliest mistakes to avoid when selling your home (watch out for #3).

  1. Not approving showings. Lets face it - selling your home can be an inconvenience and inconvenient showings come with the territory.

  2. Skipping the cleaning and decluttering. You are used to all your “stuff” but to a buyer a dirty and cluttered home is a major distraction. Clean and cleared surfaces are attractive and give buyers confidence about the quality and value of your home.

  3. Overpricing the market. You hired your agent for their professional guidance. If they tell you your home is worth $400,000 don’t insist on listing if for $500,000. That unicorn buyer (the one that will overpay for your home) is not out there.

  4. Skipping major repairs and offering a “credit” instead. Carpet credits or painting credits don’t really work. As a rule of thumb if a repair or replacement costs you $1000 the buyer will want $1500 as a credit. Put your best foot forward and you will be rewarded with top dollar for your home.

  5. Not listening to the market. If your feedback is consistently the same: price is too high, buyers don’t like the shag carpet or cigarette smell is a turn off. Listen! These are your customers and not adjusting to their feedback is a mistake.

Be on the lookout for these as a home buyer

Things that should raise your eyebrows as a home buyer.

  1. Lots of deferred maintenance. Is the paint peelingRickey railingsStrange smells in the basementMake sure to get a thorough home inspection so you know exactly what you are in for.

  2. The home is currently being used as a second home. There is nothing inherently wrong with a second home, however, second homes can have issues that arise only once they become a primary residence. Septic issues in particular tend to crop up once someone spends more than one weekend a month in a home.

  3. Rental properties. If a home has been in a rental pool for years be on the lookout for major issues. Think rental cars - people don’t drive rentals like their own cars. The same can be true for rental homes.

Let It Pass

The other day I heard a cowboy say “There’s an art to turning your hat into the wind”.

And like any true cowboy his statement includes practical and enlightened advice.

No cowboy wants to loose his hat while horseback and so one learns the right angle to keep said hat upon said head..

But I think there’s something else to it.

As far as we humans have advanced and figured out how to control so many things, we still have no way to stop the wind. It’s truly an unstoppable force of nature.

So when life’s got you headlong into a stiff wind, turn your hat just so and let it pass.

Remember, the wind can’t blow forever. (Wyoming might be the exception)

And as the incomparable Henry Ford said; “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

With gratitude.

What Are Buyers Looking For?

Low to no inventory.

Yep, that is the current state of affairs in the real estate market. We have way more buyers than we do houses.

So what are buyers looking for?

Well anything at this point because they can’t be picky, but here are the most common things I hear:

  • At least 3 bedroom

  • Under $500K

  • Something that doesn’t need a ton of work

  • Master bedroom

  • Second living room

If you are curious about selling and what your home might be worth please reach out. I will listen to your needs and goals and give you sound advice.

You get what you pay for

I was about 12 years old and needed a new pair of boots. My mom was busy so my dad took me shopping.

Now I know some of you dads out there might be good at shopping with your pre-teen daughters. My dad on the other hand embraced the mentality of “what’s the quickest and cheapest” method.

Next thing I know we are pulling up in front of a large discount retailer. We quickly cruised over to the shoe aisle and before I knew it I was walking out the door with a cute but inadequate pair of boots.

Week one went great, lots of compliments and comfort was decent.

By week two the fake leather was peeling off and I had blisters on both heels.

Lesson learned - You get what you pay for!

Somethings in life do not benefit from cutting corners on time or money.

Same thing goes for real estate agents. Are there agents out there that will sell your home for a discount? Sure there are, you’ve probably seen the commercials on TV.

But...you get what you pay for. This is likely your most valuable asset, not a time to cut corners and go with the cheapest option. Time to go with the BEST option whatever that might be.

Remember cheap boots make for miserable feet!

***Side note - these are not said boots. They didn’t last long enough for a photo op!

Dealing With Junk

“Mama told me there’d be days like this!”

Have you ever felt like this?

Days you wanted to put a trash can on your head and shut out the noise?

Well for this little gal, raking leaves makes her want to escape..

There are days my job is really tough. Days that I want to go back to slingin’ lattes at Big Shooters Coffee, where I had a job that didn’t keep me up at night.

However, every challenge teaches me more about the business and more about human nature.

I always remind myself that each one of us is dealing with our own “junk” and extending kindness and grace to each other goes a long way.

With gratitude.

Grateful

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.

Maximize Your Chances

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.

Trivial Pursuit

Okay I have to brag a little here.

We were playing Trivial Pursuit the other day and I got this questions. Mind you I have not read this book since my sophomore year of high school.

But there it was - the name came to me just like that! And for an old lady like me, that is impressive.

Okay, no Googling - does anyone know the answer?

You Will Not Go Homeless If You Sell Your House

“But if I sell my home now I will be homeless!”

I’m hearing this sentiment a lot these days. Everyone knows the market is bananas and many sellers are putting off selling because they worry about finding a replacement property..

But what if I told you I’ve got a couple tricks up my sleeve to ease the transition and stress involved with selling and buying in this HOT market?

  1. Seller Contingency - Once your home goes under contract you have a specific time period to find another home. If you can’t find another house to buy you can get out of your contract.

  2. Rent Back - After closing you can rent the home back from the buyers. This is typically calculated to cover their new monthly mortgage payment and can last up to 60 days.

  3. Extra Long Closing - Contracts are taking longer than normal anyway because we are experiencing an appraisal backlog but it’s not uncommon for parties to agree to a 90 day extended closing.

All three of these strategies give some much need and valuable time to find your next home so you don’t end up homeless.

Have questions Leave them in the comments.

Paddidle

Padiddle and other strange things we humans do.

At some point in high school I picked up padiddle.

What is padiddle you might ask?

Padiddle is what you do when you pass a car with a head light out. You say padiddle, kiss your hand and tap the headliner of your car.

Totally weird, but it’s engrained in my DNA and I CANNOT pass a car with a headlight out and not do it.

Stupid human tricks, I know!

Other things we do in my family:

When returning from a trip, say “Home again, home again, jig, jig, jig”

If you are walking with someone and you need to walk around something that splits you up you MUST say “bread and butter”.

We have more but I don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder.

What weird things/habits/sayings do you have and who taught them to you? This should be fun!

$2 bill story

THE $2 BILL

I have always carried a $2 bill in my wallet. Like since I was 16 years old.

I’m not even really sure why.

Maybe as a good luck charm.

Maybe because the art is so beautiful.

Maybe because it's fun to look at because it's so unusual and not very common.

I have asked myself if I would spend it if I had no other money to my name and I think the answer is no.

Because some things have more value in their distinct beauty than their actual face value.

Do you carry a $2 bill in your wallet?

I would love to hear your $2 bill story.

Your Team of Superheroes

Team work makes the dream work.

In order to have a great experience when buying a home you need to have a team of superheroes on your side.

  1. Real estate agent. Someone you trust, who has your back and understands the market and area.

  2. A rock star lender who understands mountain properties, is easy to communicate with and delivers on time.

  3. An experienced home inspector who is knowledgeable and takes the time to explain the findings in your inspection report.

  4. A title company who is responsive, accommodating and precise.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Bright Side

Looking on the bright side.

Here’s what I do when I am having a total crap day.

Pull up those cool videos that do the zoom out of the universe. You know the ones, it starts on your street and progresses to the next solar system in the Milky Way, or something like that!

When I feel like my problems are insurmountable I like to remind myself that I am just a speck in the universe and whatever I am going through is likely transitory.

Buying A New Home?

You bought your first home! You were feeling like you were on Cloud 9.

You had so many great ideas on your Pinterest board to make this place your own. From the cubbies for coats and boots to the chalkboard walls in the kids rooms.

But now several years have gone by and nothing has changed.

Your space is feeling cramped and tight and you are dreaming of a new home.

But how could you swing it?

Everyone knows this market is nuts!

Your current home would be sold in a heartbeat and finding a replacement would be impossible!

Prices have gone up so much, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a new home.

Does this sound like you? If so, we need to talk.

I’ve got systems and strategies for helping sellers become buyers, even in a market as crazy as this one. Just like playing chess, each move is calculated and planned Check mate!