Fifteen minutes before our scheduled closing on Friday we got a call from the buyer.  He wanted to do a walk through on the house he is supposed to be buying.  Fortunately the property is only a couple of miles from the Title Company   Yesterday?  This morning?  An hour ago?   All of those would have been much better options for a walk through.    Ralph took off to meet the buyer at the house.  He left me behind to meet the sellers and anyone else who might be involved.   This has been a long two months with one of those whiney buyers.   We met the buyer when he called on a property we had listed.   He had been licensed as a Realtor for over thirty years.  He wanted us to just represent the transaction as an Intermediary so he did not have to go get an agent.   The sellers had worked wi... 06/17/2012

Have you ever had a transaction that came down to hinging on the replacement  of a thirty year old water heater?  Who ever heard of a water heater lasting 30 years.    Enter stage left our current dilemma.       The house was built in 1980.  It has a lot of cracks, wrinkles and signs of age.       The buyer loves the floor plan and the location.  He does not love the rust stains or the remark of his inspector calling out the fact that the heater has already outlived its life expectancy by 15 years!   The loan officer is ready to send the Appraisor and all the other hurdles are handled.  This could close in a short two weeks.   We are meeting with the buyers to finish his inspections today so we reviewed the situation with the sellers.  We had shopped to see what new heaters cost and fou... 05/18/2012

This 1980s cutie is solid and well built.  It is an Usual two bed two bath plan with large living and dining rooms.   One of the best sales features is a large lush side yard.   The potential buyers, currently under contract, are used to having more windows than this house now has.   With the potential to access the side yard through this existing wall, we suggested that they consider putting a French door there and opening things up.   They seemed to like the idea and we are now on to the inspection phase of the offer.   When things are not exactly what we wish they were, we have the right to think creatively.  With the tools available today and the abundance of building supplies, homeowners can do anything they want to!   Don't forget to bring along your creativity when you are showi... 05/11/2012

While at a home inspection yesterday it began to rain.     The inspector had turned the a/c down to be sure the temperature would drop.   The unit worked well and made the house feel sub zero!     I fled to find warmer spaces which turned out to be the porch,   While standing out there I observed this cute little critter heading up the wall.  My guess was that he did not wish to be in the flower bed in the rain.   His slow and steady purposeful assent was a reminder that all of us sometimes have to engage in uphill climbs due to unexpected circumstances.     We can resist or we can take things in stride and climb as high as we can go.  Where's and whys are all somewhat subjective!     It is another little life lesson illustrated.  By  a critter.,   05/11/2012