This has been the week of CRAZY finds for me!!

You ever throw your line in a pond and pull out a boot? The TWO realtor equivalents of this would be: You ever been on a listing appointment, look in the dining room built-ins of a gorgeous, well preserved Victorian and find (a very nice set of) mounted "HOOTERS??" (Happened to me on Wednesday.)

You ever show a vacant home, walk into the kitchen and find "GUNS and AMO??" (Happened to me on Thursday.)

WOW! Wanna have some FUN?? Call me up to do some house hunting!! It's like HGTV meets SHOWTIME!! :))

How does a Realtor/Mommy work from home with a sick baby?

The entire time I've been in Real Estate I have also been heavily involved in raising two small kiddos (because my husband refuses to do it all by himself.)  So, where there's children -- we all know -- there are GERMS, and they manifest themselves at the MOST inopportune time... namely because NO time is opportune for the little green goblins.

Any other agent ever ask him or herself... "How IN-THE-WORLD can I sell Real Estate and take care of sick babies?"

It's been a learning curve.. I was a nervous wreck in the beginning... taking phone calls in my coat closet, implying that children's voices in the background were "other peoples kids"  ..can't do anything about "other people's kids" talking in the background now can I?

Geesh!! It can KICK MY BUTT trying to take care of a cherished child and a treasured client at the same time.

But eventually experience will breed wisdom.. true?  And he gains wisdom in a happy way, who gains it by another's experience... So here's what I got...

I remind myself that even though I love selling Real Estate..  this "Mommy" business is GOLDEN!  And (unfortunately... and I mean that) these days won't last forever.

I try to be real with my clients.  I tell them a little bit about myself and guess what??  We are often in the same boat -- dealing with similar things.  Talking about these things helps us connect on an even higher level.

Honesty and good equipment has made it possible for me to be successful during these times when I need to be at home -- making a bowl of chicken noodle soup while scheduling closings and writing listing contracts!

Here's some of my favorite equipment and devices...

I love a FAX LINE that goes straight to my email.

I love GMAIL.. which keeps EVERY address I've ever keyed into it.

I love a DIGITAL THERMOMETER.

I love OFFICE ASSISTANTS that work as hard as I do.

I love SOCIAL MEDIA... which helps me get in touch with all my cool peeps as soon as I need them.

I love the CVS version of CHILDREN'S TYLENOL.

I love my DROID.. (I sometimes call it my assistant.)

I love a SCANNER... that allows me to have EVERY document pertaining to ANY transaction practically on my person AT ALL TIMES.

I love TEXTING.

I love SPONGE BOB.. ????

It's on (Sponge Bob, that is) ...I just make her keep it down while I'm on the phone... 

Ok world that I love... Bring on the work.. bring on the sniffles.. I'm ON MY "A" GAME!  (Lord, heal Gina's sniffles in Jesus name!)

Great friends = great success!

Fabulous surprise!  Yesterday late morning I got a call from a friend currently residing in California.. We don't talk often and we've only seen one another once in the last 5 years.


How great that she was driving thru Terre Haute with her new (really super cute..and I'm not just saying that) baby, her sis, and her mom yesterday!  (Goes to show.. you never know what a day will bring!)

Summer, Debbie, and Dr. Scott

We met for dinner when her crew arrived in town.. Sushi Umi = great place to sit and chat with friends!


We didn't have much time but we were able to catch up on a few things.  Stepped right back into it as if there hadn't been a huge lull in our conversation over the years. 


Friends add more than "friendship" or "commradery" to our lives.  They contribute to WHO WE ARE..


Take the time out of your schedule to have a face to face, or phone to phone with your cherished friends!  WE NEED THEM to get THROUGH OUR TOUGH TIMES just as much as WE NEED THEM to be SUCCESSFUL! 

New Year New Way to SAVE YOUR MONEY

(I'm working on selling this house in Clinton.  I don't have it listed, I have buyers.. But the buyers are VERY concerned about the TAXES/ASSESSED VALUE...)

You're a HOMEOWNER?  Make sure you HAVE your HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS in place!  If you own and live in your home then you are entitled to it.  There are other exemptions people may qualify for too.  Go to the Court House -- specifically the AUDITORS OFFICE (In Vigo County go to the Annex at 1st and Oak). 

AND HERE'S WHY....

The above pictured house is located in Clinton, Indiana.

Asking Price $69,900 - reasonable

Assessed Value $$159,800 ??? (Question the ASSESSOR.. on this one!)

Current Tax Bill $3,358  - What the? Who the? What the?

Now...DRUM ROLL PLEASE.... (Look what it's possible to be saving here....)

New Tax Bill with HOMESTEAD and MORTGAGE EXEMPTIONS are estimated to be between $500 and $650!!! SCORE!!

You're GOING TO SELL? MAKE SURE you have your property taxes in order. If you're trying to sell investment property -- know that you probably don't have a HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION and a buyer will have to assume a larger than normal tax burden for the first year. That COULD EASILY scare them off.. so DON'T BLAME THE REALTOR (Oh!  But I know you never would...)

Always list your home on a MONDAY... (Why I think this...)

WHY? You ask.. would I venture out on a day like today?? (Springhill from 3rd to 7th was complete ice!!)

Because IT'S MONDAY! The BEST day to put your home on the market!

Who am I kidding? .. Any day is a good to list your house ...but -- LISTEN UP -- I have decided that certain days are BETTER than others --

BECAUSE:

EYES! MORE EYES are on your listing at the beginning of the week than the latter.

Our local Multiple Listing Service posts your property as a NEW LISTING and keeps it on the "NEW" list for 2 days. After that it falls into the sea of "active" along with the other (as of today) 855 active residential listings in our MLS.....

Who doesn't like to check out the "New" list?? You'd check it out, wouldn't ya?!

NEVER LIST ON A FRIDAY!! There are several agents out there that don't work Saturday (and bug out early on Friday) so your chances of getting viewed on that "NEW" list will dwindle.

Call me if you want more info... I'm going back out into it ...to please a little munchkin dressed like a gymnist!