Tis the Season - to give and to share- to volunteer and to be kind
Again this year I volunteered for shopping day at Toys for Tots the local Marines do an incredible job from the toy collecting and set up right down to the distribution and getting volunteers to shop .
If you have never volunteered here are some facts - over 1300 children are in need this year-that is a huge number !
The program teams them up with a volunteer to help shop for kiddo's and we have a ball trying to find just the right things! Some kids get a bike or a giant playhouse, balls and dolls are always plentiful as well as some great stuffed animals, games and of course coloring books.
I love the smiles on the Mom's and Grandma's faces, the Dads and all the parents shopping. The need is real and this allows so many to have a great Christmas. A little holiday spirit without snow or cold - and a little holiday music made for a great day!
Blessings to all who helped make this a success.
Being of good cheer we shopped and googled and rated new models of refrigerators and found one that still matches our other appliances. We are blessed to have a refrigerator in our lower level and did not lose everything in the freezer. Thankfully it was only a week and a few extra trips up and down the steps were good exercise. We are blessed.
Shout out to the young men who deliver these giant appliances daily with such ease. Our new model is in and we call her Paris…as in you could fly to Paris for what they cost these days.
Lesson learned, do your homework before purchasing a major appliance and be sure it has a good warranty. That is yet to be resolved on the old unit.
we are all vulnerable to a quick buy with out checking.
It's the time of year when you may have forgotten how beautiful the fall can be... those gorgeous maple trees - I get lost in the colors - I love the sugar maples and I was particularly fond of a sugar maple in my front yard in a home I previously lived in. That tree would have the most amazing colors of orange and tangerine with a crisp green early then a nut brown as the season came to an end.. I picked up so many leaves rescuing them from death and cold and of course they still dried up .. but I used them as book markers and flattened them between pages infatuated with the colors and textures.
Imagine my reaction when one day I came home and because that tree officially was city property because it was planted in the right of way... the tree had been cut down. I am not an arborist but I did not see any reason to kill this beloved tree. I still feel the beauty of that tree when I drive by that home and I miss it somewhere deep inside. Sometimes I find a leaf neatly kept between two pages of a book and I smile. Keeping those leaves from a tree at a home that had in some way saved me brings back a flood of emotions. Thank you fall, for the memories.
I was curious about websites and what we look at when searching for homes. So, I did a little searching and here is what I find.
There are more than 500 websites !
Lets start with your Zillow, Realtor.com,Trulia (owned by Zillow) type sites - here they are syndicated through the local MLS ( Multiple Listing Service). The information provided is based upon the information stream (RETS Feed) that is established between the MLS and the site.
That information is often then disseminated to the website and often into a different format. Often the agent is not able to make changes to these sites as it is proprietary to the sites creator. These sites offer searches to the public to assist in the home search at no cost, however, they are a lead capture site. The Zillow and Realtor.com sites then have a program whereby agents and brokers can sign up to have leads "referred" to them for a fee.
Then we have those just dedicated to their brand such as Century21.com - they have what is known as an IDX feed . An IDX (Internet Data Exchange) offers listings of the MLS through their site and is a convenient way to search the MLS and still be "in brand" .
Most real estate companies locally offer this on their websites, it assists consumers in their search and populates website with content to keep the consumer searching at one website and not having to seek other sites for listing information. The listing office is noted in the IDX feed though it is often hard to find even for seasoned agents. These also can be lead generating to the agent/office if they are asking for your email to continue searching, the lead then goes to the company/office or listing agent.
For the best service call a LOCAL REALTOR! that is your best bet for getting quality answers and real time information on a listing. Most of us work nights and weekends so no time is a bad time to reach out!
The good news is that if you are listing with an agent your property is likely to show up on so many websites and have exposure to a larger pool of buyers looking to purchase. The down side is that some information may be incorrect and need attention that an agent may not have control of.
For buyers there is a good chance you will find your next home on a website - maybe before you see it in person you will see it online and feel that emotion of seeing yourself in a new space. If that happens be sure to call your agent and make the appointment to walk through and see it in real time. The market is still challenging, but there are opportunities out there and new listings are coming your way!
This week has been a busy one... alas I am a day later than initially planned with this blog.. this week started with a personal friend/colleague down with covid and the space that occupies in your mind when thinking of them while hoping for a quick and full recovery with no lingering side effects.
There was travel this week to the Iowa Association of Realtors conference in Council Bluffs, learning new techniques and keeping up with law and ethics while meeting new friends and brokers and agents I have known for years. It was good to feel the freedom of being in a group again and reconnecting with the staff at IAR.
The emotions kept coming towards end of the week and I now am reflecting on what it means to be home. The place where you can go to hide, perhaps to cry or just to feel safe from the world. Home is a comfort, something to look forward to at the end of the day, knowing it has you, your home is your sanctuary. At home there is no judgement, no time lines to stress you and being there is the heart of everyday life. A home gives us warmth in winter and provides shelter against storms. You live your life in that home and if you have ever had to sell a home that you have lived in and built memories in and healed in, you know its a train-wreck of emotions trying to say goodbye.
There is also the excitement and joy of a new space, a new home to call your own, I have felt this joy and so often in my job experience the joy of others as they realize their dreams. That is one of the many things I love about my job.. those relationships built around searching for and finding the "one" that says home.
Coming home, what does that mean to you?
For many consumers in the real estate market the yare unsure of how the process works. Do I call the agent on the sign do I call the office? how do I know who to pick as my agent?
1. Past client referrals are a great way to find an agent. Testimonials and word of mouth are a good basis for getting an agent who is dedicated to the profession. Choose an agent who works for you and with you, find a relatable agent. Honesty and transparency are also good qualities to look for in your agent.
2. Google your agent ; most agents have been around long enough to have a track record on Google. Ask lots of questions -
3. Be sure your agent is geographically competent - knowing the area and the market are important factors in making offers and listing properties... if the agent is unfamiliar with the area it could cost you. Some agents are trained in many types of real estate - commercial, multi family etc. ask your agent if they specialize in residential property sales, or if they are experienced in other area's of property.
4. Discounted fees aren't always the best deal.. if you are unsure get a 2nd opinion. If it sounds to good to be true it may be! Interview several agents to get the fit you are looking for.
Agents and Brokers are independent contractors who work for a broker or brokerage that has a Managing Broker within the firm...there are franchises such as Century21 and Re/Max as well as many others as well as independent agencies. All are licensed through the state and are members of the National Association of Realtors and the local board of Realtors.
Realtors work on commission basis and are typically not paid a salary so they depend on listing and selling property to make a living.
10-8
I find people and places and things fascinating.. it's fun to share and see how things make you feel, for me it's nostalgia and I lo...
