I I want to take a moment to express how much I enjoy and appreciate having my own weekly live radio show, "All About Real Estate." It’s such a joy to connect with listeners each week, share my passion for real estate, and engage in meaningful conversations. I love discussing various topics, answering your questions, and learning from your insights.I'm particularly enthusiastic about sharing stories involving unique properties and special buyers and discussing the journey of buying or selling a home. I also enjoy discussing various transactions and the challenges that arise, which helps educate the public and other real estate professionals. This not only benefits my audience but also serves to teach newer Realtors®, ultimately making the industry better for everyone involved.The energy... 11/27/2024

You are going to need some help when moving.Moving can be both exciting and stressful. While the idea of a new place is adventurous, the tasks ahead are overwhelming. There are ways to simplify the moving process and get help when needed.  If you have more stuff than space in your new home, consider getting a storage unit. This way, you can keep things you don’t want to throw away and have a tidy living area.To keep important papers safe, organize your documents in a folder. To make moving easier, group things like lease agreements, change-of-address forms, and packing lists together.Don’t forget about your internet and cable! Set up these services ahead of time to avoid waiting. If it’s too hard, ask a tech-savvy friend for help.Ask friends or family for good movers, cleaners, and help... 11/09/2024

Finding Home: Why Chemistry Matters More Than Your Wish ListBuildings have personalities just like people have personalities. When looking for a condo or coop, checking out the building before choosing the unit is imperative. You’ve heard me say that each building, hey, each neighborhood has a personality. We all look and feel differently in a building, home, or neighborhood. I have worked with people who have made a detailed list, written down and described where they want to live, the area, size, type of lot, the number of rooms, the layout, the heating fuel, the square footage, placement of the primary bedroom, and a kitchen that had everything on the list. We’ve found a home that has everything on that paper—it sounded perfect. But…there was no question that it was not the right pro... 10/26/2024

A few months ago, I found what I thought was the right condo for a favorite buyer. We had been looking for six months. Our offer was accepted, but the inspection revealed latent defects that were not acceptable. There was no choice but to withdraw from that transaction. Finally, another one showed up, and we made an appointment for this one the minute it hit the market.  We immediately made an offer that could not be turned down. We asked the listing agent what the seller wanted, including the price, terms, closing dates, and whether a post-occupancy was needed. It was a desirable property we had waited for and was perfect.  The rapport with this agent was perfect, and she was a delight.  Her only goal was to make this deal work for everyone. A few concerns were quickly addressed, and a... 10/06/2024

Choose your clients wisely. It's like that old saying goes, "You can choose your friends but not your relatives." In the same way, you can choose your buyers and your sellers. Don't put up with toxic clients because you need the sale. Working with people you like, and respect is essential for a successful and fulfilling transaction. Trust your instincts and be willing to walk away if the client isn't the right fit. Doing so will make room for exceptional buyers or sellers who will make the real estate journey more rewarding.As agents, we have the freedom to select clients who value and respect our expertise. Understand that not every potential client is a good match, and that's perfectly acceptable. If you find yourself dreading each interaction, it might be time to acknowledge that the... 10/07/2024

 Choose who you want to work with. This decision is in your hands. It is not how many listings you take or how many buyers you are helping.Ask questions. Have they already spoken to agents, or have any relatives or others they may feel obligated to?  I know agents who have spent time with sellers, helping them price, stage, or telling them what they need to do before selling.  Those same agents get disappointed when the seller goes with another agent.  If you are spending time and giving this advice, you better have a signed agreement. Otherwise, that seller has no obligation to you.  I wonder how many have been in this situation.  Be careful, Realtors®. Some buyers and sellers interview agents for their knowledge and ideas.  Some, when they are already listed with another agent, will a... 10/04/2024

October 2024 ActiveRain Tech Tools Challenge  Over thirty years ago, I began my journey in real estate, marking the start of a new era.  There was the fax machine with curled paper, handwritten offers, and typewriters for contracts.  Remember the jammed copy machine. I made six copies of each contract offer and got signatures on all six. That was for every offer.  If it went through, everyone would have an original. Remember the saying, 'Press hard. That's cheap carbon paper.' There were the MLS books, bag phones, and Palm Pilot (I loved). We went nowhere without a camera and film. I remember going to my favorite photo store with rolls of the same photo, the front of the house, and asking them to make duplicates so I could have a photo for each flyer. Back then, the MLS allowed only one... 10/17/2024