The Most Common Things Buyers Look For

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Low to no inventory.

Yep, that is the current state of affairs in the real estate market. We have way more buyers than we do houses.

So what are buyers looking for?

Well anything at this point because they can’t be picky, but here are the most common things I hear:

  1. At least 3 bedroom

  2. Under $500K

  3. Something that doesn’t need a ton of work

  4. Master bedroom

  5. Second living room

If you are curious about selling and what your home might be worth please reach out. I will listen to your needs and goals and give you sound advice.

Off Market Sale

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You know how you can sometimes learn from someone else’s mistake?

Well here’s an opportunity for you.

I recently heard about a home that sold “off market”. This is a home that is sold privately, no Realtors involved.

Apparently the seller (let’s just call her Jane) did not want to pay real estate commissions so she sold it herself.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this, however, while Jane saved herself the commissions, she cost herself over $200,000 in the purchase price.

Had she called a local Realtor, they would have helped her price her home accordingly, in line with fair market value. Jane ended up selling her home for WAY under market value.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset. Don’t leave it to chance, fate or your best guess. Get some expert and professional advice so you don’t end up like Jane.

It Was All A Trick

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Do you believe your eyes?

I read this book once about a world where Earth was too hostile to live outdoors so humans lived in underground silos. Imagine a skyscraper that goes underground and only one story is above ground.

The level you lived on had to do with your educational achievements and what job you did to keep the silo running. More prestigious jobs were closer to the surface. Most of the people went along with this, what other choice did they have?

But one small group of people started to have questions.

The top level was a type of cafeteria that was all windows. You could see the wind swept and toxic landscape from the safety of the silo.

Every so often someone would have to go outside for a safety mission. They would have to suit up in protective gear with their own air supply. Some of them completed their missions, and others ended in tragedy. Their bodies still laying waste in the wasteland.

Okay, here’s the spoiler alert. DO NOT read anymore if you want to enjoy this book someday

Eventually the main character decides she’s ditching this popcorn stand and steals a protective suit and goes outside.

She can see the bodies laying around her and the hostile landscape but in a moment of shear courage (or stupidity) she removes her helmet.

And low and behold, Earth is just as it should be. She finds herself standing in a field of green grass and the sun is shining on her face.

In the distance she can see other silos, just like the one she’s lived in her whole life.

It was all a trick.

What she was seeing out of the cafeteria windows was not reality.

What she was seeing out of the helmet was a video overlay.

She runs over the top of a hill and finds a small group of other humans living as humans should.

So back to the original question.

Do you believe your eyes?

Do you believe your ears?

Do you believe what you are told?

Do you believe what you read, watch or listen to?

Just because someone says it is so, doesn’t mean it is.

Sadly the truth has become much more elusive than that.

Telling The Cold Hard Truth

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You’ve all seen it.

American Idol auditions gone bad.

They are cringe-worth at best. I find myself squirming in my seat, its perplexing, strangely fascinating and downright sad.

The worst part is when the families greet the crestfallen contestant with soothing words of comfort. “Oh, sweetie, those judges don’t know a thing. You are the best signer in the world!”

This is the part that drives me insane.

Why lie to these poor people?

They are terrible singers and NEVER should have auditioned for the show.

Telling someone the cold hard truth is sometimes very hard. You don’t want to hurt their feelings, crush their dreams or seem insensitive.

But your honesty is sometimes the most important thing they need to hear.

A couple of years ago I met with a very nice family who wanted to sell their home and move out of state. The winters were getting tough for them and they were having some health issues.

Selling was a must.

I met them at their house and noticed right away this was going to be a tough property. There was stuff everywhere, inside and out. The house was dirty, dark, and falling apart.

They gave me the grand tour and we sat down to talk. I asked them about their goals and timeline for selling their home. They needed to be out of here by September which only gave us 3 months to sell. They were short on time, money and resources to get their home ready for market.

They looked at me with hope in their eyes and asked what was next.

This was the moment for the cold hard truth.

When I first started in real estate I probably would have tried to gloss things over and ease the blow. “No, its not that bad, buyers can look past your stuff.”

Now I know better.

People hire me for my professional and honest advice. This family had a tight timeframe and a pressing need to leave the area.

So I told them the truth.

That no one would buy their home in its current condition. And because we were dealing with a very tight timeframe they were going to need to price their home much below market value to get it sold quickly.

I said all of these things with tenderness and grace, because I very much care about how my words make people feel.

At the end of our meeting they thanked me for my encouraging words.

What??

I didn’t think I sounded encouraging at all, but then I recognized it was the honesty and a thoughtful game plan that gave them feelings of encouragement.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but I believe if you really care for someone you owe them the truth and nothing but.

Dealing With Difficult People

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You did what?

When I first started in real estate, I was not as experienced as I am now, go figure. And I was not as good as dealing with difficult people.

I had this one seller that got really upset over some inspection items and repairs that were required by the lender. I tried my best to explain that he didn’t have to do the repairs but if he didn’t the buyer would not be able to move forward with the purchase.

In the end the seller took care of the repairs, begrudgingly, but then did something not very nice or smart.

He let all the propane out of the tank before closing.

In February.

Needless to say, the buyers had a couple of very cold nights before they could get more propane delivered.

I understand that sometimes a real estate sale can feel personal. As a buyer or seller you might feel “beat up” by the other side.

I always encourage my clients to look at the big picture and recognize the home selling period is just a small slice in time.

And as time has gone on, my hope is that I can bring calmness and clarity to any situation, no matter the people or situation.

With gratitude.

Emotions

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We orbit the gamut of emotions like the earth orbits the sun.

Sometimes we hardly notice our feelings, they are light hearted and fun or run of the mill and mundane.

But sometimes an emotion, like grief or anger, can grip us. And the orbit becomes tighter and faster, like a dying star being drawn to a black hole. Until we reach the event horizon and there’s no turning back.

A black hole is shaped like a funnel in the fabric of space and time. And the dying star gets sucked into the mouth of the funnel never to be seen again.

But scientists are still not sure what’s on the other side of the black hole. What if there’s peace and redemption on the other side? What if there is light and love?

Think of this - even if the caterpillar could comprehend the transition to butterfly, would she even dare to dream that she would go from belly crawler to flying beauty? And as a side note, the caterpillar turns to actual goo during its miraculous transformation.

So if you find yourself in a season of anger or grief that seems never-ending I urge you to remember the mystery and miracle that surrounds transformation. That hearts that are shattered or hardened can beat again with the life blood of rebirth and forgiveness.

Do you believe?

With gratitude.

Monsters

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Monsters under the bed.

Do you remember? You know that feeling.

The feeling that there REALLY were monsters under your bed.

Fear that would grip you, and the armor of your blanket. And if you just buried your head under your pillow they couldn’t get you.

It’s crazy how real that feels when you are a child.

And then you grow up.

And the fear of monsters UNDER the bed disappears, but the monsters don’t go away.

As adults we just find them other places. In a job loss, a failed relationship or the death of a loved one.

But here’s the beauty in it all.

The imagination of a child is vivid. Just as it conjures up monsters under the bed it can also craft magical lands with unicorns and castles made of cotton candy.

So I take a cue from my girls.

When the monsters start to creep in I send my blessings to battle.

For every set back, I have 10 things to be grateful for.

For every hurt, I have any number of dear friends who will stop whatever they are doing to help.

And for every unexpected turn in the road I know God is always with me.

BE THE LION

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I’ve struggled most of my life with not having a voice.

I was the kid that would shrink into a corner and avoid conflict at all cost. I felt incapable of standing up for myself to the point of destruction.

And on top of that, I’ve always been a people pleaser so my needs and desires took the back seat to everyone else.

But just the other day a dear friend reminded me that I HAD found my voice after all.

Let me tell you the story she reminded me of.

A couple of years ago we were at a women’s conference together. It was the opening session of the conference and we were in a large room with about 100+ people.

The woman speaking was presenting her original art work when suddenly she pointed to me from across the room and said she wanted me to have this painting.

I was dumbstruck.

She said God pinpointed me for this painting and that she hoped it spoke to me the way it spoke to her when she was creating it.

I love the colors, the imagery and the shofar intertwined into the image. The lion is mighty and brave. He looks after his family with fierce loyalty. And he is free.

Be the lion.

Financial Goals

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Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Just because you are approved for a loan for $500,000 doesn’t mean that you should spend that much.

Let’s walk through this together.

You’ve finally got the home of your dreams, but you had to max out your budget to get it. What might you have to give up to have that home

vacations

savings

college funds

retirement

fun family experiences

These all might be on the chopping block... and before you know it you might find yourself in financial bondage.

This house, the one you are in, or the one you are buying is likely NOT your forever home.

Homeownership is a process of stepping stones, each time you get more of what you desire. So hold off on maxing out your home budget and remember all the other financial goals you have.

FAMILY

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This morning my youngest climbed in to bed with me for a quick snuggle before school. As I marveled at this perfect human being, I realized how divinely we have been created.

The folded arm of a parent is a perfect pillow for a snuggling child.

The distance between a mothers shoulder and elbow is perfect for cradling a nursing infant.

The distance between a childs hip, knee and ankle is perfect for riding on a fathers shoulders.

And a child fits perfectly into the shape of a sleeping parent for the best cuddles.

God made us to need each other. He made us to be together. He made our bodies and minds perfectly paired so that we could coexist with love, support and compassion. Not by chance, but by perfect design.

I am so grateful for my family - they are what matters most.

Let's Talk About Shoes

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It’s all in the footwear.

Remember when you were a kid and you got a new pair of shoes and adults would say, “I bet you can run extra fast in those new shoes!”

And depending on your age, you did run faster (or at least you thought you did).

Funny thing, this still applies as an adult

When we stay home and I have lots to do, the footwear I choose for the day dictates how much I am going to get done.

On the days that I go with the sneaks, I get tons done. The days I go with the slippers…. not so much!

Coal - My Best Pet

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Tell me about your best pet.

Here’s mine (well he was actually Bill’s), Coal.

Bill got Coal one week before we met . It was just the three of us for quite some time, though his “person” was Bill without a doubt, I was just along for the ride.

He was a spectacular dog overall, aside from the time he pulled our Christmas ham off the counter and when he chewed up one of my bras (a little jealous I think).

He lived to the ripe old age of 15…. I still miss him.

And these two kitties are my very close runner up. Macy and Sam - they will always be special to me, though we only had them for a short time.

Beauty In Cracked Marbles

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My grandmother loved to make cracked marbles.

She would heat them carefully in a pot on the stove at just the right temperature. Too hot and they would be destroyed, not enough heat and they would be unchanged.

She took something ordinary and common and turned them into tiny gems. They turned from regular marbles to sparkling, complex and beautiful treasures.

Elizabeth found the stash of marbles that my grandmother gave me and is now following in her footsteps by making jewelry out of them.

It’s interesting to me that life is a little like those cracked marbles.

That the beauty and uniqueness is revealed in change.

And that sometimes, it’s in our cracks and brokenness that we discover the most about ourselves.

Telling A Cold, Hard Truth

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You’ve all seen it.

American Idol auditions gone bad.

They are cringe-worth at best. I find myself squirming in my seat, its perplexing, strangely fascinating and downright sad.

The worst part is when the families greet the crestfallen contestant with soothing words of comfort. “Oh, sweetie, those judges don’t know a thing. You are the best signer in the world!”

This is the part that drives me insane

Why lie to these poor people? They are terrible singers and NEVER should have auditioned for the show.

Telling someone the cold hard truth is sometimes very hard. You don’t want to hurt their feelings, crush their dreams or seem insensitive.

But your honesty is sometimes the most important thing they need to hear.

A couple of years ago I met with a very nice family who wanted to sell their home and move out of state. The winters were getting tough for them and they were having some health issues.

Selling was a must.

I met them at their house and noticed right away this was going to be a tough property. There was stuff everywhere, inside and out. The house was dirty, dark, and falling apart.

They gave me the grand tour and we sat down to talk. I asked them about their goals and timeline for selling their home. They needed to be out of here by September which only gave us 3 months to sell. They were short on time, money and resources to get their home ready for market.

They looked at me with hope in their eyes and asked what was next.

This was the moment for the cold hard truth.

When I first started in real estate I probably would have tried to gloss things over and ease the blow. “No, its not that bad, buyers can look past your stuff.”

Now I know better.

People hire me for my professional and honest advice. This family had a tight timeframe and a pressing need to leave the area.

So I told them the truth.

That no one would buy their home in its current condition. And because we were dealing with a very tight timeframe they were going to need to price their home much below market value to get it sold quickly.

I said all of these things with tenderness and grace, because I very much care about how my words make people feel.

At the end of our meeting they thanked me for my encouraging words.

What?

I didn’t think I sounded encouraging at all, but then I recognized it was the honesty and a thoughtful game plan that gave them feelings of encouragement.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but I believe if you really care for someone you owe them the truth and nothing but.

REAL ESTATER

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I was called a “real estater” the other day.

Not Realtor, not real estate agent, a real estater.

And it reminded me that there are still so many people who don’t fully understand what I do. I mean lots of people think all I do is open doors and go out to lunch with my clients!

Whether I am working with a buyer or seller my hope is that I am brining years of experience and connections to the table.

  • Recommending pre-listing repairs for the biggest bang for your buck.

  • Connecting you with experts in their fields for pre-purchase inspections.

  • Coordinating with the title company to resolve unreleased liens.

  • Brainstorming with the lender when we have an issue on the appraisal.

  • Inside knowledge on things like well depth/quality or feisty HOA’s.

  • Negotiating on your behalf when inspections items come up.

  • Accurate pricing for the maximum return on investment in the shortest amount of time.

  • Getting you the winning offer when you are competing against many other buyers.

  • And sometimes being a shoulder to cry on, real estate can put you through the ringer.

With gratitude.

The "Olden Days"

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The “old 80’s”.

This is what my kids call it.

This must be akin to what I would call the “olden days” when I was a kid.

Oh, how I miss the 80’s. The music , no cell phones, great toys, and what seems like easier times.

A couple of years ago I was talking with some of my clients who were 80 and 82 at the time. I was lamenting about the past and specifically the 80’s. How it was the best decade EVER.

They wholeheartedly disagreed.

The 50’s were their favorite decade.

And then I realized, its not so much the decade we mourn, but who we were then.

At the beginning of the 80’s I was a young child and I transitioned into a teenager by 1989.

These were some of the best years of my life, and right now it’s comforting to think about the past and how maybe things DID seemed more carefree back then.

What was your favorite decade?

I think this is the same tree, located in the park right off Hwy 24 in Buena Vista

Serenity Now

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Serenity Now.

Let’s face it, buying a home can be stressful. There’s a lot going on in a short amount of time and big decisions are being made.

But here’s one decision that should be easy - getting a professional home inspection.

Buyers ask me all the time if they should get an inspection and I always answer with a resounding YES!

However, I know that some buyers are capable of doing their own inspections and some want to save a little money and not hire the professional.

I can understand both of these sentiments.

However, if you think of a home inspection like to do insurance, you will see the value. If you could insure a $300,000 house for $600 would you do it? Of course!

A home inspection is your “try before you buy” insurance.

Bring some peace to your home buying experience and go with the professional home inspection.