If I have learned anything in this business, it's that there is no such thing as a transaction just falling into place. In my 6 years of selling real estate, I have leaned something new in every deal that I have been a part of.
Buying or selling a property is a complicated process at best and there are always exceptions, those usually end up being on the exceptionally complicated side of the equation.
Recently I have seen several really whacky things that, even my brokers stop to scratch their heads about when I must explain. There's a running joke when I call the main office that I will most often have some sort of zany question, I don't usually end up at the boring end of any story. People ask me how I deal with the constant 'putting out of fires' and daily upheaval, the truth is that I kinda like it. I enjoy problem solving and being able to make things work out for the best when, for others involved, it may seem like insurmountable odds are being faced.
In this business you need to be flexible, keep a level head and most of all be up for a challenge! I seldom back down from anything and I have always taken great joy in making people happy. When I was in a management position in retail and fine dining, when I was a professional athlete competing horses for other people, and now as I simultaneously help multiple clients with their own very specific set of requirements and needs in property sales. When others feel like throwing up their hands in despair I often find myself saying "don't panic yet, we can figure out a solution!"
So what I am getting at here, is that the home buying & selling process is inherently going to throw curve balls. There are just way too many possibilities of how something could go down to be able to predict the outcomes 100%. Things do not just fall into place, it takes careful consideration and staying ahead of the curve to be able to keep things from going off the rails, but it's a challenge that I love to take on every day. Bring it on!
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Saturday, July 21, 2018
It Takes a Village
It takes a village to sell a property sometimes, and one of my recent sales was definitely a prime example of that!
The listing came through a referral from past clients, so I went to meet with the sellers to go over the property and make suggestions as to what should be done before listing. Some painting, some tidying and some light landscaping was in order. The listing went up seamlessly once the property was prepped.
We had a few showings right off the bat but no significant interest so I called in the entire sales team at Exit for an agent caravan tour - the agents in these situations are frank and give great feedback suggestions. We decided to do some rearrangement of the furniture and light staging. The next showing brought that serious interest! But here's where it started to get complicated...
The buyers were first timers and when I explained how agency works and my inability to represent them because I was representing the sellers, they felt like they should have an agent on their side. So I called in another REALTOR from Exit to help them out. They wrote the offer, we negotiated and the sale came together swiftly.
Fast forward to Closing day, the sellers have locked the house and left all the keys inside minus the one in the lockbox (which didn't open the knob AND deadbolt unfortunately!!!) The home was empty and and the only way in was through a second storey door that used to lead to a balcony which had been removed several years before. It was a chalet style home and a long way up to the door. Not a ladder in sight anywhere and the clock is ticking to get in there.
My husband owns a hearth store and occasionally drives one of the work vans (which have ladders on the roof!) I frantically called him to see if he was in the area, and driving a van that day... He was only a few minutes away so he zoomed over to save the day like a super hero!! (All the while, I am in a different town negotiating the last bits of another sale with only hours left before the deadline!) He climbed up a long ladder jimmied the door open and crawled in through. I am glad this was at the rear of the house and he did not get arrested for mischief... the situations I ask him to be involved in sometimes... He let the buyers agent in and they completed the final walk through in record time making sure that the Closing timeline was maintained for all parties!
The happy ending is that both buyers and sellers were thrilled that we were able to close on time (early even after all that!) and by working seamlessly together to get to that end goal, everyone is a winner! I just love being able to solve problems for my clients in situations like these! It's what makes my job so fulfilling!
** Shout out to my fabulous husband who has always had my back, you're the best!
The listing came through a referral from past clients, so I went to meet with the sellers to go over the property and make suggestions as to what should be done before listing. Some painting, some tidying and some light landscaping was in order. The listing went up seamlessly once the property was prepped.
We had a few showings right off the bat but no significant interest so I called in the entire sales team at Exit for an agent caravan tour - the agents in these situations are frank and give great feedback suggestions. We decided to do some rearrangement of the furniture and light staging. The next showing brought that serious interest! But here's where it started to get complicated...
The buyers were first timers and when I explained how agency works and my inability to represent them because I was representing the sellers, they felt like they should have an agent on their side. So I called in another REALTOR from Exit to help them out. They wrote the offer, we negotiated and the sale came together swiftly.
Fast forward to Closing day, the sellers have locked the house and left all the keys inside minus the one in the lockbox (which didn't open the knob AND deadbolt unfortunately!!!) The home was empty and and the only way in was through a second storey door that used to lead to a balcony which had been removed several years before. It was a chalet style home and a long way up to the door. Not a ladder in sight anywhere and the clock is ticking to get in there.
My husband owns a hearth store and occasionally drives one of the work vans (which have ladders on the roof!) I frantically called him to see if he was in the area, and driving a van that day... He was only a few minutes away so he zoomed over to save the day like a super hero!! (All the while, I am in a different town negotiating the last bits of another sale with only hours left before the deadline!) He climbed up a long ladder jimmied the door open and crawled in through. I am glad this was at the rear of the house and he did not get arrested for mischief... the situations I ask him to be involved in sometimes... He let the buyers agent in and they completed the final walk through in record time making sure that the Closing timeline was maintained for all parties!
The happy ending is that both buyers and sellers were thrilled that we were able to close on time (early even after all that!) and by working seamlessly together to get to that end goal, everyone is a winner! I just love being able to solve problems for my clients in situations like these! It's what makes my job so fulfilling!
** Shout out to my fabulous husband who has always had my back, you're the best!
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Stay Cool, Man.
Buying and selling property can be stressful for everyone involved. Emotions are often running high, everyone has a large stake in the transaction, and timelines can be tight adding to the issues.
Hiring a REALTOR® that keeps a cool head is vital! I can't tell you how many times a listening ear, a calm disposition and an arms length opinion has prevailed over a heated situation. I have a rule that if something makes your blood boil in a transaction, you should take some time to process things before immediately reacting.
When I was riding horses professionally, the great David O'Connor used to tell me to be PROactive rather than REactive. Always act in a positive way in order to have a positive outcome. Don't allow yourself to negatively react to a situation that will further the downward spiral. Horses do not understand the emotional hang ups we have when we are riding and we absolutely must remain rational in order to communicate effectively with them every time we get on.
It is most times impossible to keep emotions out of real estate sales. Your agent needs to understand your feelings and be able to gently guide all parties along so that the end result is well thought out and reasonable. When the agent(s) involved get wound up, things can get heated unnecessarily. As a professional I have been yelled at, threatened, called names, sworn at and had some very unpleasant conversations all due to emotions getting out of control. Less so from clients than other agents to be frank. I totally understand that this is not a reflection of me personally, but of the stress that people are feeling within themselves. It's not pleasant, but it can happen. I previously worked in the retail and service industries and have seen many stressful outbursts in kitchens and such. As a professional athlete I was taught to remove emotion from my job as it does not make for more successful performances. Being able to separate emotions and reality is important, and I have been practicing this for many years prior to becoming a REALTOR. It is my job to lead everyone through these times in a steady, calm fashion.
Hiring a REALTOR® that keeps a cool head is vital! I can't tell you how many times a listening ear, a calm disposition and an arms length opinion has prevailed over a heated situation. I have a rule that if something makes your blood boil in a transaction, you should take some time to process things before immediately reacting.
When I was riding horses professionally, the great David O'Connor used to tell me to be PROactive rather than REactive. Always act in a positive way in order to have a positive outcome. Don't allow yourself to negatively react to a situation that will further the downward spiral. Horses do not understand the emotional hang ups we have when we are riding and we absolutely must remain rational in order to communicate effectively with them every time we get on.
It is most times impossible to keep emotions out of real estate sales. Your agent needs to understand your feelings and be able to gently guide all parties along so that the end result is well thought out and reasonable. When the agent(s) involved get wound up, things can get heated unnecessarily. As a professional I have been yelled at, threatened, called names, sworn at and had some very unpleasant conversations all due to emotions getting out of control. Less so from clients than other agents to be frank. I totally understand that this is not a reflection of me personally, but of the stress that people are feeling within themselves. It's not pleasant, but it can happen. I previously worked in the retail and service industries and have seen many stressful outbursts in kitchens and such. As a professional athlete I was taught to remove emotion from my job as it does not make for more successful performances. Being able to separate emotions and reality is important, and I have been practicing this for many years prior to becoming a REALTOR. It is my job to lead everyone through these times in a steady, calm fashion.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Co Worker Woes
How important is it to have co workers that you get along with? Do you feel like office or workplace cohesion is important? Do you like the people you work alongside?
As a REALTOR® how much time I spend in the office is up to me, other than a 'duty shift' once a week or so where I am required to be in the office for walk ins and phone calls. Other than that I can work out of the New Minas/Greenwood offices or from home. So much of my time is spent traveling around that I don't actually spend that much time physically at my desk. When I am in the office though, the people I work with are influential!
Having a positive office vibe is incredibly important to people that work in close proximity to each other, have you ever had to spend 8 hours a day next to a loud mouth or someone who doesn't follow the rules of the space? This can really create an unproductive environment and make it hard to do your job effectively! It's so much more than just getting along or being friends, it's about respecting the people that you work with no matter what position they occupy within your organization.
Having a negative office vibe creates a bad atmosphere and can really bring productivity down quickly! I am always way more excited to go to an office where I feel respected and equal to everyone else there. I see no need for putting some employees on pedestals, this only creates animosity. No matter how much money you make, or what clothes you wear or what you look like, I believe that everyone has something to offer and should be held to the same standard!
Do you feel like you are treated fairly in your workplace? Do you have co workers that you would rather not have to be around? Do you dread spending time at your office?
As a REALTOR® how much time I spend in the office is up to me, other than a 'duty shift' once a week or so where I am required to be in the office for walk ins and phone calls. Other than that I can work out of the New Minas/Greenwood offices or from home. So much of my time is spent traveling around that I don't actually spend that much time physically at my desk. When I am in the office though, the people I work with are influential!
Having a positive office vibe is incredibly important to people that work in close proximity to each other, have you ever had to spend 8 hours a day next to a loud mouth or someone who doesn't follow the rules of the space? This can really create an unproductive environment and make it hard to do your job effectively! It's so much more than just getting along or being friends, it's about respecting the people that you work with no matter what position they occupy within your organization.
Having a negative office vibe creates a bad atmosphere and can really bring productivity down quickly! I am always way more excited to go to an office where I feel respected and equal to everyone else there. I see no need for putting some employees on pedestals, this only creates animosity. No matter how much money you make, or what clothes you wear or what you look like, I believe that everyone has something to offer and should be held to the same standard!
Do you feel like you are treated fairly in your workplace? Do you have co workers that you would rather not have to be around? Do you dread spending time at your office?
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
To Paint Or Not To Paint
The single most cost effective way to prepare your home to list is with a fresh coat of paint. This works for two reasons.
1) A fresh coat of paint covers up the small scratches, dings and wear and tear that occur over the course of a family living in a home, it's natural, but it's not pretty. When you apply new paint, the home now has a fresh, well kept, well cared for appearance. It no longer looks or feels old or worn, and this is ideal.
2) New paint that is neutral and pleasing to most people allows a buyer to picture themselves living in the home. Bright, dark and too trendy colour choices are distracting to most buyers - have you ever noticed one of the most common comments on those real estate shows from buyers is about paint, and specifically, paint that they don't like.
If you are preparing to sell and you think that it's too much work to paint your home, imagine how the buyers feel... they are contemplating making a huge purchase and right off the bat they see work that needs to be done. Do it for them and I guarantee you will have more successful showings.
If you don't want to paint because you believe that the buyer may not share your tastes in colour selection, pick a colour palette that is generally appealing to the majority of people, believe me, most of these buyers are watching real estate shows and have pinterest boards that are showcasing the relaxing neutrals that are timeless classics. If they have more wild tastes, it's much easier for them to get excited about painting an accent wall than painting the entire home.
Another important thing to consider is continuity through the home, painting each room and hallway a different colour is a poor choice as it makes the home feel broken up and compartmentalized. Buyers want open concept so carry a theme of 2-3 colours through the entire home and if you really want some variation choose another shade on the same chip so that you don't break up the flow.
If you are thinking of listing and want really expert advice I can align you with a local paint guru that will custom match a colour palette for you and your home based on everything from the architectural style to the flooring and even available natural light! I can attest to the prowess of this expert, he helped me choose the paint colours for the entire interior of my home plus the exterior colours as well. He is amazing!
1) A fresh coat of paint covers up the small scratches, dings and wear and tear that occur over the course of a family living in a home, it's natural, but it's not pretty. When you apply new paint, the home now has a fresh, well kept, well cared for appearance. It no longer looks or feels old or worn, and this is ideal.
2) New paint that is neutral and pleasing to most people allows a buyer to picture themselves living in the home. Bright, dark and too trendy colour choices are distracting to most buyers - have you ever noticed one of the most common comments on those real estate shows from buyers is about paint, and specifically, paint that they don't like.
If you are preparing to sell and you think that it's too much work to paint your home, imagine how the buyers feel... they are contemplating making a huge purchase and right off the bat they see work that needs to be done. Do it for them and I guarantee you will have more successful showings.
If you don't want to paint because you believe that the buyer may not share your tastes in colour selection, pick a colour palette that is generally appealing to the majority of people, believe me, most of these buyers are watching real estate shows and have pinterest boards that are showcasing the relaxing neutrals that are timeless classics. If they have more wild tastes, it's much easier for them to get excited about painting an accent wall than painting the entire home.
Another important thing to consider is continuity through the home, painting each room and hallway a different colour is a poor choice as it makes the home feel broken up and compartmentalized. Buyers want open concept so carry a theme of 2-3 colours through the entire home and if you really want some variation choose another shade on the same chip so that you don't break up the flow.
If you are thinking of listing and want really expert advice I can align you with a local paint guru that will custom match a colour palette for you and your home based on everything from the architectural style to the flooring and even available natural light! I can attest to the prowess of this expert, he helped me choose the paint colours for the entire interior of my home plus the exterior colours as well. He is amazing!
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