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Monday, January 23, 2017

Bonkers for Cat Forts

I have had a Bonkers past week. Bonkers because I negotiated FOUR accepted offers on listings for my seller clients. Bonkers because I have several new listings coming up and buyer clients looking for properties. Bonkers because sometimes my line of work takes me on the most ridiculous of adventures. 
Bonkers, but I love it!

It is pretty awesome to have this much business on the go in January. I am thrilled to be able to bring good news to my sellers and so excited that we can get things done in the dead of winter when usually there is very little happening. I have been chatting with other agents and it may be that the weather has been cooperating and it's been hovering around freezing without any "Polar Vortex" weather like in years past. 

*It may be that I have turned into a real estate sorcerer and I cannot be stopped. Only time will tell.*

The craziest thing that happened this week though was getting a call from a Buyer that I had shown a property to that was vacant but had a few semi-feral barn cats still hanging out as the owners were not able (through no fault of their own) to take with them when they left. These cats are fat and the neighbours have been supplying them regularly with food & water, they are spayed and vaccinated as well, but just too wild to catch.
The Buyer was losing sleep over the cats, and wanted to go back to the property to fashion some cat forts for them. No problem with me, I do this kind of thing all the time. LOL!

She arrived with a truck full of cardboard boxes, bales of straw, blankets and pet beds!! We lugged the gear up into the hayloft where the cats had been nesting in leftover hay and got to work. A short time later we had fashioned a large cat condo for them to pile into together, it was pretty great I must say! Then we thought that maybe they don't get along so the next project was to construct several smaller, single family homes in various locations around the space so they could have their privacy if need be.
After a while of both of us fluffing blankets, filling beds with straw and finding the ideal location for each abode, we got to laughing about what kind of crazy animal lovers we must be in order to go to such lengths. It was actually a really fun time, and I will for sure be stopping in to see how they are enjoying the cat-forts ASAP.

The buyer though informed me that when I go to check them out - if it looks like the cats have rejected the homes, that I should just tell her the opposite! Felines are fickle as we all know!

There's never a dull day in this line of work! Bring it on!

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

2016 Most Memorable Homents


Welcome to 2017! While many people are bidding 'good riddance' to 2016, I have put together a little list of the years most memorable HOMEnts in real estate!
 A bit of a VIP and 'failed it' compilation for your entertainment!

First up I want to shout out to all my clients, buyers and sellers - you guys are the reason I do this job! I love working with people and I appreciate you choosing me!

A stellar moment for me was wrapping up my 25th sale of the year with a first time buyer who chose a home in Coldbrook - I hope you are staying cozy with your woodstove and it's not too long before it's pool season again, she was so much fun to work with and we had a ball finding her the perfect property! 25 sales in a year marks a major milestone and means I achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation!

On that Bronze subject, I got to travel to Nassau Bahamas for the Exit International Convention and Awards. What a stunning part of the world - even though I was there immediately following Hurricane Matthew ripped through the region, the beauty was undeniable! And I could not have been more proud to receive my award and celebrate with my peers and colleagues!
 

One particular Seller client stands out to me, I was contacted to list a home that had a lot of sentimental value to a family. The Seller, recently widowed, had purchased the home as a newlywed many many years before, raised her family there and was now retired. After much discussion & deliberation I was brought in for a consultation. It was an emotional journey for everyone involved, and I ended up spending considerable time with her going over documents carefully and visiting often (and eating her delicious treats that she would have prepared!) Her home sold almost immediately to a newly engaged couple, although bittersweet - she was able to downsize to a perfect place and I even went to go visit her there and indulge in some wonderful sweets and coffee after she was settled!

As for very special buyers, I had been working with a young couple for a while that had had a very emotional lead up to purchasing their first home. We had seen a place that was absolutely perfect for them, as fate would have it the process was drawn out with much negotiation but finally came together. These buyers were forced to wait and get very creative in structuring the offer. Patience and level headed deliberations won out in the end, only to have a last minute hiccup just as it looked like it was time to celebrate! These buyers were amazingly stoic and it paid off, they now live in their perfect property with their family and animals and have recently gotten engaged! Congratulations to you guys! I am thrilled to have been part of this time in your lives!

Now on the the embarassing parts - my real estate 'failed it!' moments. While attending an Agent Caravan Tour where we visit our offices newly listed properties as a group -the crowd was touring the main level of a property, I headed downstairs. Thinking the property was vacant, I showed myself around and accidentally opened the door to a bedroom with a poor soul just getting out of bed!
On another occasion I was listing a cottage lot and sat down on a picnic table to fill out documents, I immediately heard a loud buzzing to find that there was a GIANT wasps nest under the table that I had disturbed! We all bolted inside and slammed the door and had to wait out the angry swarm huddled inside a camper!
Having made an appearance in my very first blog "Stilettos & Garbage" longtime clients of mine that have seen me at my best & worst had booked an appointment to see a property. I also coach equestrians and my student had taken a spill from her horse during a lesson, I lost track of time making sure she was ok, and relaying appropriate information to her parents and I ended up being almost an hour late to the showing. Luckily these particular clients were amazingly easy going, but what a hideous impression to make, I was frantically apologizing the entire time we looked at the home!

I am looking forward to 2017 with enthusiasm and a desire to be better than I was last year, I strive to provide my clients with professional, ethical and supportive direction in their real estate needs and I would love to help you make the next step in your journey!