And we're off.....

Met with a new buyer on Thursday. Mrs. X called me about 8:00 pm on Thursday evening (just as I was heading out for an evening run) to chat about the house. Turns out she and Mr. X are sitting in front of the house. I quickly run back home, change clothes, brush teeth, and head for the car. Spend about an hour with the X's and I am back home by 9:15 pm. By now it's time for bed! I run up to change clothes (for the 4th time that day) only to realize that I should have looked in the mirror before heading out to meet my buyers.........have my shirt on INSIDE OUT! UGH!!

Ok, so I didn't get an offer...but I don't think it was the shirt mishap! Mrs. X called again on Friday morning and asked that I meet her again....and I did...and now I am just waiting. Wait with me, won't you?????

Catching Up/Exciting Experiment

Been too long since I've blogged! This is an area that I am dedicated to becoming more attentive to. School is back in session, parents are playing catch-up from the summer months, and FALL is in the air! Can it get any better? Yes, it can.....have you seen the recent interest rates? 3.7 on a 15 year and at last check 4.375 on a 30 year fixed. Why isn't my phone ringing off the hook?

In the next few weeks as I attract buyers and sellers, my intention is to explain the process, walk you through the details, and take you with me to closing. Of the last 3 transactions I've completed, I have saved respective buyers $23k, $7k, and $29k in purchase prices. It's always an experience and no two are ever the same! Let's go through it together!

Ok, check back frequently as I hope to begin working with my next seller sometime mid-week. We'll sample a buyer and a seller and see what happens!

The Calm After the Storm & Your New Options

I am sad to say that April 30th has come and gone. I hope that date didn't pass you by if you were a prospective home buyer! There are still great programs available such as the Palmetto Heroes Program for teachers, fire fighters, and police officers. Want more information, click on the link above or better yet, give me a call at 864.915.2834.

Is your car your second home?

Being in real estate means that I spend an awful lot of time in my car. Driving to and from showing and listing appointments, property checks, home inspections, etc. If I were to inventory my car it would take all day....and surprisingly I'd be willing to bet I could survive a week in my car! So, here is my attempt at decluttering my car and simplifying my life!
Keep some type of trash bag in your vehicle with easy access. Stop letting the napkins pile up in the glove box and the paperclips, receipts and straws in the console. Keep a plastic tub in the trunk for all the sports shoes, gloves, balls, etc. Keep all the car toys such as Nintendo's, videos, and ipod equipment in a seat organizer and add a few magazines or books for use on long trips. Most importantly, scan your car each time you get out and grab all the trash and anything that needs to be thrown out. Don't let things pile up!

Moving on to the task at hand....

Grocery shopping can eat up an entire afternoon! Get organized and cut down on time. MAKE A LIST and check it twice to prevent that second grocery run tomorrow! If keeping a list becomes a problem then make notes in your phone or text yourself a message. Make a menu for the week and add in an alternate meal just in case stock is low at the grocery store. Clean out the refrigerator before you go. Throw away the old left overs and the empty bottles of ketchup! Go ahead and grab those few health and beauty aid products you need and save yourself a trip to another store. CUT COUPONS......a dollar saved is a dollar earned! Shop the stores that give back. Enjoy fuel perks, free milk, or a penny item....but take advantage of the offers!

One last thought - make a meal, gather around the dinner table with family and friends, and enjoy!

Spring Cleaning!

Get ready - get set - go! Spring is in the air and that means it's time for some good old spring cleaning. For the next several weeks I'll be focusing on getting organized and DE-CLUTTERING your home and your life.

So...off with a bang! Let's address the kitchen cabinets and those catch-all household closets. Hooks and cork boards make a wonderful way to hide measuring spoons, to-do lists, grocery lists, coupons and much more. Hang cork boards or sheets of cork (using double sided tape) on the interior side of your cabinets. Pin up a grocery list so you can make notations while you are in the kitchen. When you use the last drop of ketchup or tear off the last paper towel...write it down! Tack up your weekly recipes and take out menus as well. Hang a calendar full of appointments for a quick reference guide.

The biggest obstacle when attempting to sell an occupied home is de-cluttering. Get a jump start on it and begin now! This weekend, while working with a young couple interested in buying their next home, the wife made a comment in one house that "it's hard to even visualize my things in this house because it is so cluttered!" So take it from me, the queen of "tuck and hide" just get organized and spend less time looking for those items that you "just saw the other day!"

What motivates you?

I believe a little healthy competition helps to keep us all motivated. When you isolate yourself from gossip and the hum-drum of everyday happenings, you tend to loose your drive...or at least I do. Take time each day to observe what others in your same profession are doing, how they are managing their time and pay close attention to their attitudes! Don't get sucked in to a routine! Shake it up, be different, be unique, and be proud of it. I've recently had a small dose of "healthy" competition that almost sucked me in! It's hard to rise above and overcome....but it sure does feel good when you do!

Good luck to all my real estate buddies! The market has been keeping me busy this past week and I am looking forward to feeling overwhelmed and inspired!