I love learning! Unlike some people, I actually look forward to attending the continuing education classes for my real estate license and I take full advantage of every training opportunity I can. How about you? Are you a lifelong learner too?
Well, today I thought I would share what I learned recently from one of my awesome clients.
The day started out like any other, with a few client appointments… One in particular was with a young couple who were relocating into town for the wife’s job. We were to meet in the office at 1pm and then go see their short list of homes. Nothing out of the ordinary…. We had been communicating for the last month via email, texting and yes we even spoke on the phone
I knew where they wanted to live (after sharing with them maps and links to local places I thought they’d enjoy), what style of home they preferred, their desired yard size, etc… everything that they wanted in their dream home in their new town! When they arrived, we reviewed their criteria, I had my lender there to meet them and get their lending and budget solidified, reviewed the homes we were going to see and out the door we went… house shopping!
Now I always like to throw in some fun, b/c I know that buying a home can be nerve-racking, so I brought along drinks and snacks in a cooler, brought a little booklet of some neat places they could explore while in town… and I gave them a notepad & paper so they could capture their thoughts on every house as we went from home to home… my usual.
Well, we finished the jam-packed day and they wanted to write an offer on one spectacular home they had seen. So I pulled up the recently sold homes similar to that one and it was obvious to me that it was priced spot on value, or perhaps a little under… I told them it may become a multiple offer situation and we needed to go for it with all they had if they really wanted to get it! Long story short, they took my advice to submit the offer with full price and add an escalation clause which said they would increase their offer to beat any other offer by $100 up to a certain price point. At my suggestion, they also wrote a personal letter to the seller, which I’ve learned from being on the listing side, that most sellers appreciate.
I know you’re dying to know…. did they get their dream house? Answer: YESS!!
They were beyond excited they had “won” the house (b/c there had been one other offer that had been submitted)! They’ve since settled in and are loving exploring their new town and making it theirs!
So what did I learn from this awesome couple? They told me that while they were talking with me about their move here, that they had also been talking with two other agents b/c they were scared to be going to a new place and knowing no one, so they felt like they needed to do their due diligence in selecting just the right agent. They went on to tell me that they chose me b/c they could feel my sincerity in wanting to share about my amazing area, sincerity in wanting to take my time and be sure that I clearly understood each of their criteria, sincerity in becoming their realtor for life. At the closing, one of their parents had flown in to help them move in and I was told that they would like me to help them find a home here, as they would be retiring within 6 months….. I was sooo excited to continue helping this precious family reunite in my town.
So what did I learn? I learned the value of the way I run my business and my life: deal with everyone sincerely and communicate exceptionally, keeping at the forefront of my mind, my clients’ desires. It hit me in such a powerful way how truly blessed I am to LOVEEE my job! I get to help so many people with something as important as that place they call home!
As a friend often says, “I love what I do and I hope you do too!” I hope you love your job.. and if you don’t I encourage you to think about what you might prefer to do over what you’re doing now. It’s a neat life to do everyday something that you truly enjoy and are good at. I’m always here to grab a coffee or something and catch up! Until next time, make the most of this precious day!
It’s that time again… time to prep your home for the cooler weather that’s on its way. Get these completed so that you can take a much- needed break by taking a nap on the couch or curling up with a good book.
Change décor & bedding. It will soon be chilly and that means the lighter sheets currently on your bed, need to be changed out with layers of warm comfort like maybe wool or fake fur. Also, with the change in season, comes Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas so now is the time to swap out summer pillows and décor for the cozy cooler weather décor and accessories, such as a cozy throw and thicker window curtain panels, etc.
Check smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors. & replace batteries. Also, now is the best time to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher too. Lastly, did you know that if your smoke detectors are yellow, it means they need to be replaced? It’s true, so do this life-saving maintenance this month for sure!
Schedule furnace & chimney maintenance. As the seasons change, it’s important to have an HVAC pro come out and maintain your furnace. And since colder weather brings about fireplaces being used, it’s also the perfect time to have your chimney inspected and cleaned.
Weatherstripping check. Now is the time to check all existing weatherstripping and replace if needed. And add any new to windows and doors that let too much air escape. Your budget will thank you. Your family will be warmer!
Inspect your roof & gutters. Roof leaks are the worst, especially during cold & inclement weather seasons, so now is the time to have a pro come out, clean out your gutters and inspect your roof (from on top of the roof) and make any necessary repairs now.
If you need any referrals to good contractors, send me a text or email or give me a call & I’d be happy to share with you my go-to list of the best in town! I look forward to hearing from you! Happy October!
After a busy, enjoyable summer, isn’t it nice to be back in routine with kids back to school, the sun setting earlier (making kids bedtime easier), etc? It sure is. And that doesn’t mean the fun times have to end– no way! Here’s a list of family fun things you can plan this month.
1) Decorate. – Wreath for the front door – Inside for fall – The porch with pumpkins and other fall decor
2) Bake. – Pumpkin pie – Pumpkin bread – Homemade apple cider
3) Enjoy the Outdoors. -Make raking the leaves a family event. -Go to the local pumpkin patch & hop on a hayride. -Grab the ingredients for smores. Prepare indoors, then go outside after dinner to roast & enjoy. -Plan a walk in the woods to see what you can see & end this special time with hot chocolate when you get back home.
What fun Fall family things does YOUR family do? Do tell, I can’t wait to hear your ideas!
