(A blog from earlier this year that was never posted.. Update on the house mentioned - that Erin and I went to show - sold/closed aprox a month ago.)



I have the house listed next door..

It's raining today.

Erin and I were putting on rain boots, going to show the house to someone we know.

We were laughing..  and then she said "you're my best friend!"

Instantly my mind went back in time...  like a time warp scene on tv.

It's funny how she can say something so off the cuff and I can be very aware that my response may get trapped in her memory for decades to come...

IN THAT INSTANT -- I thought about how I had told my Mom that same thing on several different occasions..  I thought about her responses.  Sometimes she wanted to be my Mom -- not necessarily my best friend...

I responded to Erin without giving away the entire thought process I'd just gone thru in my mind..

"You're gonna have lots of friends over the years" I said, "And I promise to always be here when you need me!"

And then I put my arm around her and we walked next door.

In addition to that tiny, non memorable sentence - what I meant was...

Erin, you are my daughter. God has charged me with your upbringing.

You are my life.

I am honored beyond belief that He entrusted you to me.

I breathe a sigh of relief every night when I know you're peacefully asleep.

I never want to spend a day without you.

I'm humbled that you would call me you're best friend ...and I hope you always will.

big stuff.. hard stuff.. other people's stuff.. but I saw it or heard it ..and now it's my stuff...

I have a really crappy house for sale and it's really crappy.. I mean crap overload.

I showed it twice today and each time the potential buyer and I found ourselves walking outside and simultaneously wiping our feet in the snow.. to clean off the actual crap we walked thru INSIDE the house.  

(Both of those people made an offer on this place.)

There is a little boy that lives there.  He's 3.  The second time I was there he was running around the living room.. which I thought was fine.. but he got in trouble for it.. and by that I mean smacked with a belt right in front of me.

He cried but not for long.  While my client was talking to his grandpa he pointed to a picture above the door.  It was a picture of a lighthouse.  I said "I know a song about a lighthouse." 

I sang it to him (while my client and his grandpa were talking next to us) and I told him it was about Jesus.  Maybe one day if he hangs on to this memory (and I have no idea that he will) he will remember a woman singing some crazy song in his apartment about a lighthouse and telling him it was about Jesus.

I can't stop thinking about him...

I listed a house a few years ago for a man that told me horrible stories about his childhood.  His childhood that happened right there in that house. 

Sometimes we don't sell sweet homes with sweet stories.. 

But it was such a pleasure to help THAT man sell THAT house and say GOOD-BYE to it ...on the day I took this picture.

Be nice to people.. you don't know what they've gone thru... and sometimes you don't want to...

My Lighthouse by Rend Collective:  (great song!) http://youtu.be/JPtIv2lnkTY

The TRUTH about Santa (Shhhhhh...Not for those under 12 yrs old)

It was last year.. We knew Erin was hearing things at school.. she was putting 2 and 2 together.. Santa was fading away from her..

We didn't like that..

Matt thought of it.. he came up with what we should say..

(But I insisted it be at Starbucks.. I thought I had to have a holiday drink in my hand when we did this.)

We looked into the eyes of our little girl.. her eyes get real big sometimes.. she had big eyes at that moment.

Erin, 

(We were nervous.. anxious... couldn't believe we were having "this moment"...)

The truth is...

There really IS a Santa Claus....  

There is a legend about a man that lived a long time ago and he gave gifts to children.

He did it because God had given him the best gift of all -- Jesus.

When that man died it was his hope that others would pick up where he left off and continue to give gifts to each other -- in the name of Santa Claus -- but because of JESUS.

We've been doing it..... and now... ....You can do it too!

Are you ready for it?

Her eyes were still big and she said.. 

"Yes!"

Then she smiled at us and said "I like this..."

And that's how we told Erin the truth about Santa Claus.

Every real estate SALE or PURCHASE has some story behind it.

The stories are my favorite part...

Some stories I want to stand up and CHEER.. .some I laugh about LATER.. some STILL make me tear up when I think about them.

They make me think about things in my own life.. the things that cause these sales to happen.. they always makes me feel something... always.

LIFE -- the THICK of it -- happens EVERY DAY and it forces EACH of these sales to happen..

the drive for something different out of life,

the joys that happen to each of us in life,

the challenges/struggles/tragedies life sometimes hands us.

In-my-own-house life is sometimes THICK (loud) with this kind of stuff.

Then on other days I think it's THIN and quiet... and there's nothing going on.

Oh.. but the other day I was reminded that life is THICK everyday -- somewhere...

At 1:00pm I showed a house to a couple looking to create their first home.

They're getting married in September.

It was fun..they were smiling..

They have plans.. we made some plans...

At 2:00pm I toured a home where the father met me at the door...

his 18 year old daughter looked up at me from the couch as I walked into the living room...

his little 5th grade son walked into the room...

The kids followed us as we walked thru the house.  They piped up here and there about stuff they wanted me to see.

They had just lost their mom a few months ago and they all want to sell and have a new start.

I left them and came home..

My mother-in-law was over.  When I walked in the door her and the girls were elbow deep in APRONS and EASY BAKES.. there were miniature pizzas and chocolate chip cookies all over the kitchen.

Later I talked to my mom for almost an hour on the phone.

It's crazy how much LIFE happens in one day!

We've got a snow day in Terre Haute!

I'm working from my kitchen table -- lucky girl -- I've got a fireplace in my kitchen and large windows surround my table.  So it's a scenic snowy view only 5 ft away from flames in the fireplace.

And b/c I'm able to sit here at home, work on listings and a purchase agreement (fingers are crossed) and do it all the way I want to.. 

I've got the new Coldwell Banker #homerocks campaign on my mind... For real!  I do!

I'm seriously thinking that the campaign should go on to say "AS LOUD AS YOU WANT IT TO!" Two examples follow:

classic e.g.

I showed a girl a house last week.. we were standing on the deck surveying the backyard and she asked "Can I have a dog here?"

I looked at her and my eyes said.. "Awww.. you're so cute!"  Then I laughed and blurted;

"OF COURSE YOU CAN SILLY!!!  YOU'LL OWN IT!!!!"

another e.g.

This is my old apartment building on 6th Street:

I had a very chic retro record player when I lived there.. I LOVED it!  

One night I was playing records and came across a Paul Anka record that my mom had probably given me.
  
As I listened to it I started to think (and I realize how cheesy I'm going to look as I tell you this story)...  I came to determine that "My Way" by Paul Anka was maybe the best song I had EVER heard!

I was so caught up in it.. the crackle of the record, the smooth voice.. the few regrets.. the charted course.. each careful step.. the music got louder.. he bit off more than he could chew.. there was doubt -- he ate it up.. spit it out.. .he faced it all.. stood tall.. I pictured him... he loved...laughed and cried.. his share of losing.. finds it all so amusing...  he did all that.. louder... not in a shy way.. louder still.. what is a man?  if not himself .. then he has not.. wow this is good stuff... what he truely feels.. not the words of one who kneels.. the record shows.. he took the blows... record player cranked all the way up... myyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyy.

(Crazy knocking on the door!!)  

It's Bruce ..the building's maintenance man.  

Do you know how embarrassing it is (after the fact) to realize you were so caught up in Paul Anka singing My Way that the maintenance man had to run up from his basement apartment to your third floor apartment and had to knock on your door for several minutes (b/c you were oblivious and couldn't hear him over the record player) to tell you to turn your *&^% music down??

Oh.. it's embarrassing for years to come...

Yes, all these years later, home ownership rocks as loud as we want it to -- and that's what we like about it!

So I'm thinkin' it's GREAT to sit here by the fire and work on listings -- and a hopeful purchase.. with kids chirping and Matt playing the radio loud enough that he can hear it while he showers.  ...Because that's how we like it!  (Now that Bruce no longer lives in my basement....)

#homerocks  AS LOUD AS YOU WANT IT TO!

Walls can't talk ...but Post-It notes can!

I think Jeff and Melissa are fabulous.

15 years ago I met them for the first time at my friend Georgia's "going away" party -- they brought a friend of their own -- MY HUSBAND!


Yep!  Matt and I met for the first time via THE MILLERS! ...And Georgia!

The SECOND TIME I met Matt it was actually at the Miller's home in Farrington Grove.  He was working with Jeff on a MAJOR house renovation.  I wanted to say something nice but was a little dumbfounded by all the drywall dust and lack of ...ceiling.  So I stumbled over the words "I like your... tool belt.. you look.. very ...handy!"

14 years and 5 kids between us later... The Miller's have enjoyed their completely renovated home to the point they've outgrown it.

Just like yours and mine, this home has history -- it has stories -- it could give you an earful!

So - how can Jeff and Melissa talk about their house when they're not there to guide the tour?

How can they make their walls talk?

How can they tell people about that hidden dishwasher?  (I like that..)

What's in their yard?  How will people know if it's not blooming?

Melissa loved living downtown.. How can she tell you about that?

I really like this idea of staging a house with memories.. pointing out hidden amenities.

Make your walls talk to it's possible buyer!  They ALWAYS have a lot to say!!

(PS... Gina wants to buy this house because Sofie lived there!  See!  Sometimes it's about more than location!)

What.a.day....

It's summer... and the Hill's want to spend as much time together as possible, right?

But I had a laundry list of things to do today.

Fortunately Matt's between projects so I asked all three of them to pile into the car and come along for what I THOUGHT would be a few hours of work...

I had a list.

It wouldn't take long.

In reality -- we were gone from 10:20am to 7:00pm.

It was like a trip to Indianapolis.  72 miles on the car -- just around Terre Haute!

Documents showed up and needed delivered, loan issues needed settled, there were impromptu showings..

We managed by giving the kids a job  or two to do -- something to be in charge of whether it was flyer delivery, text rider detail or song selection on the radio.

A stop for ice cream.

And I lucked out when it turned out there was a park right next to the house I was showing!!

My favorite part -- on the drive home we put all the windows down -- all 4! --  since it was so nice outside.  What?  We never drive with all the windows down... (These girls aren't raised like I was - '74 Pinto - didn't know air condition existed in a car or a house!) So we were driving like we were in a convertible blaring Mumford & Sons across 25th and Wabash -- on the way back to our cherished home after a long day of everyone working hard to help Mommy.

We were together ALL day!  We were still happy!  And I got it all done!

I lucked out today.. another day they may not have been so congenial -- and their walkie talkie batteries may not have lasted as long.. (they found out they can pick up truckers when we're on the road.. that was fun!)

It's been a long tea time of the soul...

Let's call the last few months a hiatus from blogging.. I'm not sure why I took one.... I think my nerves got the best of me.. 

But I'm back!  

I love to blog and --although my thoughts and opines may not be necessary to keep the world spinning -- I like writing them down.. and I very much appreciate you reading them!

This is me on a ferris wheel last night - stopped at the top!  I'm afraid of heights... can you tell?

I was playing it calm, not letting on -- which, until now, has NOT been my M-O. 

My daughters reminded me of something last night.  I watched my youngest spread her arms -- in the air -- while we were spinning real fast -- FOR THE FIRST TIME --

....on those dreaded swings.  

I CAREFULLY strapped my youngest in --dare I trust a carnival worker?  No way!  I made sure to clip and attach and close everything I needed to.  (Sidenote -- I did it wrong.  The beloved carnival worker had to correct me.  Thank God for that guy!)

I saw her holding onto the bar.. I was sure she was probably scared... and then I saw her let go.. pull her hands only (maybe) 3 inches from the bar.. and then grab it again.  And then...

THIS...

You and I do this too.  We pull our hands a few inches from the bar and then we realize we won't fall and we let go. 

Sometimes we're wrong.

Sometimes we're right.

I do that with offers.  I present an offer to a seller or an idea to a buyer.  I wince, I play devil's advocate, and then I let go...

That's a nice feeling.

Happy (belated) Independence Day.. Happy feel-free-to-let-go-of-the-bar-and-try day!  

I'm about to show my little family that we can have a meal w/o meat.. Heavens! Will they revolt? (I think the big hairy one will...)

Lentils, Ribbles, and Candy Carrots.

G loves when we put sugar on a dinner dish.  I'm a bean fan (to each their own, right?)  E's fond of my grandma's Ribble recipe. 

With the addition of traditional bread and butter, the big hairy one.. ??

Do you know what Ribbles are?

My grandma -- and then my Mom -- made them.. I thought it was something she made up -- but there may be different names for the dish in other families.



It's chicken/chicken broth with salt, pepper and onion -- get that boiling.  Then -- in a seperate bowl -- mix WITH YOUR HANDS flour, eggs and salt.  DON'T MIX TOO MUCH!  ...Shew!  That's the cardinal rule!

You don't roll them like noodles.. you just drop them into the boiling broth.  They're not dumplings.. there ribbles... they're different.. and yummy!

There's no written measurements although tonight I used precisley 4 cups broth, half an onion, 2 cups flour, 2 eggs, salt and pepper to taste.

With the dish comes the memories.. (Did she know that would happen?)

The canisters in my kitchen were my Grandmas and when I pick up the scoop from the flour I sometimes think my hand looks like hers -- when she picked up the scoop.

I think I remember what her voice sounded like but once-in-a-blue-moon I hear her say "Debbie  Girl" and it's in my ears ..the exact sound of her voice -- along with the smell of chicken and onions..

And then I hear my Mom's advice about not fooling with them too much.

I remember Mom's soft, curly hair around her ears when she looked down at what she was doing.

My husband and daughters never met my Grandma.

I'm glad they like the Ribbles.. I'm glad E has asked how to make them. 

So turns out we -- even Matt -- survived going meatless tonight. 

Infact, we're all going to bed on a full stomach and I've got a heart full of sweet thoughts of my heritage..



And to think I almost put frozen fish in the oven!  (Btw, Matt loves (LOVES) fish sticks!)  (And we rarely have them...)  (I'm more an egg sandwich kinda girl..)

Last week I helped a family get into their first home.

 

(Well... the closing actually spilled over into this week...)

 

We were supposed to close Friday but were informed -at the very last minute- that on Wednesday the seller had turned utilities off (w/o being advised to.)

 

NEVER DO THAT -- unless you tell the buyer.

The buyer called utility companies while sitting at the closing table.  Electric would be turned on but no gas (heat) or water until Monday... and we were in the middle of a cold snap -- of course.

'Told the buyer I wasn't comfortable proceeding with the closing -- when there's a possibility the pipes could bust before he turned the heat back on.

 

Worry.

 

I worried all weekend..

 

The buyer didn't have to put utilities into their name until they owned it.. but should I have reminded them to call ahead of time? Of course I should have.  ...And so began the work of "kicking myself" all weekend!

 

Friday night I drove over to the house to open all the faucets and flush the toilets.  The seller's agent had suggested this might help save the pipes or toilets from busting.

It was dark.  I took what items I thought I would need..

 

 

The stick was to stir the toilet bowls -- if I saw ice forming.

No ice.  Temp was 32 degrees.  Electric was on.

Saturday I prayed.

And then Sunday.. I got a wild hair.

 

Sunday afternoon.  Matt and I went over to check on the house. 

 

The girls came with.

 

 

It's still 32 degrees.  (That's them in the dining room... huddled.)

How could I heat this place up?

It didn't take as long as you might think..

(I would love to have gotten up to 40.. but Matt was not onboard.)

Monday morning the buyer and I met someone from the water co. at the house. 

33 degrees inside.  Water at all points... NO BUSTED PIPES!

We really dodged the big one.  Fortunately the temp in the house never got below 32 degrees.  From what I gathered - from various experts I talked to over that anxious weekend - a house has to be below a certain degree for quite a while for damage to happen.  We were fine.. but until we knew for sure we had to wait.

What to take away from this story? 

Make arrangements for utilities prior to closing.  There's so much going on during a sale and neglecting the tiniest detail can mess things up. 

I plan to tape a sign to my desk.  Come visit me -- you'll see it!

 

Happy New Year!!

I'm going to be "transparent" about what I was hoping for here...

My goal for 2012 was to sell 35 units..  either as the listing agent or the buyers' agent -- or any combination there of... 

BY GEORGE I ALMOST HAD IT!

I closed on 34 in 2012. 

So..

It doesn't matter that I wrote more offers than that or came within A STONES THROW of closing on more than that..

DANG.IT!

It was a dog fight to get some of these closed.  I even lost a little sleep over some that never came to fruition.

I showed houses to people that weren't approved for loans.

I traveled God's half acre so we could cross things off our list as soon as we pulled in the driveway.

(I gave Starbucks ALOT of $$.)

(I didn't keep good track of my mileage...)

BUT!  (I say this with the corners of my mouth curled up like the Grinch...  -- Yep!  It's gonna take me WEEKS to detox from Christmas break...)

There were some really good stories from last year!!

Right off the bat a (very) sweet father sold the old homestead and moved closer to his grown daughter.  A few single moms moved out of cramped apartments and into solid houses.  Young couples and new families established their first homes.  A pastor was able to move closer to his church.  People took better jobs and were able to sell houses and move on.  Estate homes were sold.  Rental properties were sold.  A couple moved back to Terre Haute after years of being away.. and on and on.. 

I made several friends.

Happy things happened..  I'd like to give a hug FULL of Christmas Cheer and Goodwill to those 34 families that are safely snuggled into new homes tonight!

And NO worries about me... I've already started on 2013..

Congrats to a family friend.. I love your new house!

(If you write an offer on Christmas Eve you MUST sign your purchase agreement with a candy cane pen!!)

Real quick like -- I have ONE tip for busy parents..

Often I wake up thinking about inspections or listing presentations.. and -God forbid- DINNER..

..I do NOT wake up planning the making of

"My Girls:  The Documentary" 

But...

It can be done.. It's not as hard as we make it in our minds. 

After you read this grab your phone or your video camera and make a 30 second or 1 minute video of your kids.

What are they doing?

Nothing?

Well-then discreetly tape them for 30 seconds doing their sweet version of "nothing."

Take close ups of their hands, their feet, the tops of their heads..

Matt and I watched a video from only 4 years ago -- and we were sucked in like it was the moon landing.

Tiny moments are the best.  Birthday parties are often snoozers..  Grab some tiny moments of genuine "nothing."  You'll be so interested in every little detail down the road.

 





 



Well -- it finally happened!

A buyer called the other day concerned that the house I helped them buy was ... HAUNTED.



Actually, they wanted to know if the seller had ever mentioned being "frightened" in the house.  Had TVs ever turned on by themselves or doors locked themselves?

My first thought was "What???" and "This is not covered in the purchase agreement" and "Please don't make me ask the seller this!"  I mean if the house is haunted there is no clause that would allow you to get your money back. 

In fact, a seller does not have to disclose that they believe their house IS haunted.. beyond that they don't have to disclose a death in the house or any other psychological issue that may be attached to the property.

In my spookiest of voices I am telling you -- this area is truely "BUYER BEWARE..."

I have had clients ask if someone ever died in the house they're considering.  I usually have no idea..but I'll ask.  If the question is asked the seller should fess up, don't you think?

As for my buyer (nice people -- I hope this doesn't turn them off of their new place)  I suggested that maybe it was interference in their speakers -- possibly a quirky knob that will occassionally lock itself.  'Has to be something like that because I do NOT believe in ghost.

Actual picture of Proton Pack in my listing!
 

(Funny side note.. I sold a house this summer with a Proton Pack in pristine condition hanging in the garage.  Remember that?  From Ghostbusters?  ...What a year this has been!)

Influence.... wedding.. fortune cookies... arguements... kids...

Somewhere in these words I have a blog... a thought thread that is only slightly tangled.. maybe I need to read more -- so my words don't get locked up the way they are.  Turns out too much tv really CAN rot your brain.

We weren't thinking about influencing the world around us, raising kids, domestic diplomacy (?),  building anything more than what we were going to need to get started.

13 years later we were at odds with one another about something -- and the kids knew it too.  I don't even remember what about now.  We all went to bed without reaching common ground or putting an end to it.  (I think it's ok to go to bed angry.. I know I'm wrong.. but a good night's rest often provides clarity.  :)

The next morning I'm up in the kitchen. There's a fortune cookie on the counter.

I walked back into our bedroom, handed Matt the cookie, and said no matter what the cookie says.. we'll put last night behind us and "bide by the fortune."  (Stupid -- but I needed an ice breaker!)

He opened the cookie, read the fortune, and groaned "ooooh.hh... greeatt..

I thought.. Oh no!  The fortune must say "RUN while your legs still can!"

This is what the fortune said:



...I worry that I give off the impression through blogging or social media posts that my life is always ?hunky-dorey?.. because my posts might tend to be positive. For the most part I could get away with saying it IS .. but NOT without having to maually push that "start over button" once-in-a-while or get it back on the rails from time to time. And NOT by doing it alone.. Matt and I have totally acknowledge that God is in the center of this -- or we're sunk.

That being said ...we must annoy God alot.

(But that's ok..)

Alabama couple moving to Terre Haute.. Closing Tues.. What gift?

I'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS from FB friends...

I will incorporate some of what they suggested..  THEN print off the entire thread and hand it to my clients.  I think it will be great fun for them to take these suggestions and seek out the things I didn't give them.  How nice to know a bunch of people were putting a little thought into their move here this week!  -- I know some great -- creative people!

There are nuances to my job that I get tickled about.. 

One of which is buying the closing gift.  It's fun to walk through the gift bag isle at the store and have a reason to buy a cute one. 

Problem is ...I get closing gift BLOCK on occassion. Can't think of anything "cool" and default to the Walmart Card or Lowes/Menards.. depending on which side of town the house is on.

Just as in the case of my Alabama couple there are times when I really want to step out of the generic box and do something special.



Only ONCE did I screw up big time and go a little more "special" than I intended... I mean "special" like I was afraid to tell Matt exactly HOW MUCH special....

(Que the walk down memory lane music...)

Young couple with a newborn buying a house on the east side.  The seller had lost his wife and was moving into an apartment.  Great family home about to start over with a new family.



There was a tandem bike in the garage that the wife wanted to purchase from the seller.  I told her that we couldn't put it on the purchase agreement.  (That's true the lender does not want personal property on the purchase agreement -- other than the major appliances, attached fixtures, window treatments etc.)



Back to the story....

I told my clients that we would ask the seller about the bike after we negotiated the purchase price. (Again, great idea.  You never want the purchase of some personal property to affect the price of the real estate.)

Problem was by the time I asked the seller about the tandem bike... he told me he had sold it to the plumber who had recently made a repair for him.  He said he sold it for $100.

OH NO!

 

It's my fault.. we didn't mention it at the time of purchase.. She wanted that bike so bad!!... DANG!

Later that night I called the plumber... "Hi, this is Debbie Hill.  I heard you bought a tandem bike today from Mr. Seller. Would you sell it to me for $150 CASH?"



He thinks about it ... calls me back ...  YES!  He WILL sell the bike to me for $150.  Problem solved.

Later that week the seller shows up at the office to sign a misc paper.. "Well hello Mr. Seller!  You'll never believe this but I got the plumber to sell me that bike!  'Cost me $150!!"

His jaw drops...

"You DID say you sold it to him for $100?  Didn't you?"

The short of it... He had actually just traded the bike to the plumber for a new faucet on the front of the house....



Yes.. that stung a little bit. 

(Que back to present day music..)

So anyway... It is fun to hand someone a gift...

...but I have to admit -- it's hard to keep on top of.  Sometimes a closing sneaks up on me and I make a mental note to send a thank you gift to my client..

I still have a couple outstanding.  BUT I WILL GET TO THEM. 

Don't I have a year??? (Or is that just for the wedding gift I still owe someone?)