What do I want to do here? Random thoughts...
I believe I would like to write - every day - about issues which are real-estate related, but not necessarily in the strictest sense. We can cover all kinds of topics. If you have questions, ask me. If you are having problems, tell me...maybe together we can solve the problem. Sometimes a neutral third party helps...and I don't mean personal problems! I am not a personal counselor, but, rather, a real-estate-related "counselor"! Since this is paying nothing to me...it would probably make more sense to become a personal counselor, huh? Oh, well. I chose the career, now I live with it.
I will share articles of interest, as well. I'm not going to do all the talking, although I am sure most of you think I do well at that (talking all the time!). Maybe share a few videos of interest (not any MoTown or Beach Boys...remember...real-estate related....). Although, let me know, a couple good Motown songs could be placed on the site....
I will tell you that I absolutely love what I do, though. I cannot imagine myself sitting in an office taking orders. Always been a bit anti-authority! (I hear you....making comments like, "No kidding, Tari!") This profession feeds that, to some extent! I can help you find a home, sell a home, and everything in between, and watch the excitement on your faces when you find that home, and get the buyer for your home. It's there, and it's tangible...at least for me it is. No matter if you are a first-time buyer, or a third-time buyer, the look spreads on your face when you find "THAT" home. It's there, and it is ever so exciting to watch. And, best of all, personally, I am not harming anyone. I am helping them make an important life decision, and I love watching and being a bystander in their home quest. The progression is fun to be a part of...and I try to help you experience the fun, too. The fun is because of your desire to have a new home and/or sell your "old" one.
You are, to me, the most important person in my professional life (sorry...you won't win out over my husband and kids...but otherwise, you are tops!). I've met the best of you all. And, sorry to say, the worst of some! It brings out the worst sometimes, and that is when I learn to differentiate, to determine if this is really someones' true personality or their "real-estate-I'm-nervous" personality. If it's the first, I quit! We all have one life, and I am not going to waste mine on someone who is angry and wants to take it out on everyone around him/her. If it's the second, then I will find a way to make them happy, all the way to the closing and well beyond. You hear a lot (in this business) about "client for life". That's essentially what I do. I don't sell you a house, then walk away. I have helped clients buy and sell 4,5,6 homes in the past 20+ years. They are friends, now. And this is why it is fun!
This is the largest financial transaction one probably makes in their lives, so it is a crucial decision. It affects everyone differently, believe me. I can't help laughing sometimes about some of the things people do when they are buying a home, or selling a home. They get so nervous. And, really, who could blame them? Nowadays? With the market in the downturn for the past couple years, it is an even more excruciating decision. Issues that have never been important before take on a tone of importance similar to, oh, say, being crowned the King! But they get through it.
My goal has always been to educate all the people I work with: to help them understand the nature of the transaction, and everything that is built into it and the progression leading toward the peak: Title Transfer and Possession of the new home. To this end, my leading thought has always been that the more educated you are, the better decisions you will make, and the less regrets (if any) you will have later. I am there to help and guide you. I can educate you, but I want you to learn as much as possible because you will feel more comfortable with the entire process if you have been discovering the answers yourself. Many times, when first-timers come to me, they don't know much. But, they have been making a real effort, via the Internet, to educate themselves. I see that as very promising. They are very nervous...it's palpable, that nervous energy. But, as soon as they begin to read and to determine what they want, and visit homes, they get more controlled.
The real estate industry worried about losing control of the MLS, and giving away information so that the buying public wouldn't "need" them any longer. I have never believed that. There's enough out there for everyone...whatever their choice. If a person wants to try to sell FSBO, more power to them. I've seen it work beautifully for many FSBOs. And some have crashed and burned. Educate yourself. I have seen buyers who don't want to work with a realtor, and only want to look at FSBOs...and work directly with the seller. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. Educate yourself.
Educate yourself. Find what it is you believe you need. I will tell you this...at the risk of sounding very biased !)...20+ years ago, buying and selling real estate was nothing like it is today. There is more liability, for starters. We are a far more litigious society these days. The least little issue, and everyone is in court. No matter that it's a house....with all the history of a house, for heaven's sake! Sure, there are sellers who don't tell the truth, and buyers who suspect everyone and everything, but for the most part, the buying and selling consumer public is honest and cares about what happens when they sell their house. But, having a third party, a negotiator, if you will, in the middle (i.e., a Realtor, for example) is good. They should be representing your best interests. That's why you hire them. If they aren't? Fire them! And don't let the Broker tell you that you cannot do that. You can. (They will make it difficult, though) Educate yourself. (Learn to write in a clause on the
Many times you will hear comments such as, "Don't get emotional...think of it as a business...." But, I am not at all sure that is a good approach. Why? Because I do not believe for a minute that you can take the "emotional" out of buying, or selling, a home. I think it can be tempered somewhat, but not eliminated. And, for that matter, why on earth would you want to take the "emotional" out of it? Isn't excitement emotional? Isn't wanting to move forward from one home, for whatever reason, to another home, emotional? How can you possibly cut that off?
Educate yourself. If you do, you can be emotional, because you will understand it all...or most of it anyway, and you can ask me, or your Realtor, whatever else you need to know.
I think I will stop lecturing here. I will find something of excellent interest for tomorrow. Thanks for listening.
