Thoughts Ideas and Giggles

YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN...

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:44:27 -0400

You know you are getting old when, from the time you start your errand at one end of the room, to reaching the other side of the room, you have forgotten why you went there.

You know you are getting old when you make a phone call and don't know who you called when they answer.

You know you are getting old when you pick up the remote to make a phone call.

You know you are getting old when you start to eat the napkin and put the lettuce in your lap.

You know you are getting old when prunes sound better than ice cream.

You know you are getting old when you get on automatic pilot and head home rather than go to your actual destination.

You know you are getting old when you call your child your dog's name and you dog your child's name.

You know you are getting old when you would rather cocoon at home than go out to dinner.

You know you are getting old when you don't mind all of the cars passing you on the freeway.

You know you are getting old when you are looking for your glasses and they are around your neck.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

WHY CAN'T BLOGGING JUST BE FOR FUN?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:35:13 -0400

I know that blogging will bring you business if you do it right. That is evidenced by the number of tutorials that are out there to teach how to get the most out of a post...how to write it, what words to put on top, what to put in the title, how to label photos... and the list goes on and on.

While this might be right on, it really has taken some of the pure fun out of it. I feel guilty if I don't do a link or 2. Heaven forbid the keywords be wrong or...oh, no...nonexistent. If there are no photos, you might as well hang it up. My subjects have to be right to be sure that I ramp up my Google juice.

I'm tired. I'm tired about worrying if I am doing right. I am tired of being concerned about what words I am using when. I don't want to feel guilty if I don't read every single post about how to do it better.

I just want to have fun. I just want to share my thoughts and have people share theirs in return. I want to learn about real estate across the nation. I want to help sellers and buyers understand the process. I don't know if this is politically correct, and I will probably get blasted for not taking blogging more seriously, but then...

I just want to have fun....okay...blast away!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

ONE IN A THOUSAND SOUTH LAND PARK TERRACE HOME

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:55:53 -0400

Homes like this one don't come along every day...in fact, this is truly a rare opportunity to own a beautiful, quality home in South Land Park Terrace with over 3100 square feet on over a third of an acre! This home just beams with pride of ownership!

Enjoy the spacious open floor plan with a panoramic view of the lush backyard from the family room, the master suite and the office/den. A wonderful remote bedroom and bath is perfect for a teenager retreat or in-law quarters that also features a walk-in closet and kitchenette.

The ever-sought after downstairs master retreat is a dream with a huge walk-in closet and pretty bath featuring dual sinks, large separate shower and loads of light.

With 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths, this is a home just built for a family or those who love to entertain! A large shaded patio welcomes the Delta breezes...perfect for relaxing after a day's work. The list price for this wonderful home is $759,000.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

WE SHOULD SELL HOMES LIKE HE SELLS FLOWERS

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:06:51 -0400

My daughters and I regularly enjoy a local famer's market. It is just hard to beat the quality of the fresh food and the very reasonable prices.

One of my favorite stops is the flower booth of one particular vendor. Now, there are several flower vendors there and they all sell pretty much the same flowers. Why, then, do I loyally go back each and every time to him?

He doesn't just sell his flowers - he romances his flowers. He also makes me feel special. Once in a while, when he is running low of my favority tuber roses, he saves me the last bunch. Last week he made sure to hold 2 bouquets for me. He gave my granddaughters each a beautiful stalk of gladiolas. He always wears a smile. By his demeanor, he makes you feel like he never has a bad day...he's the kind of person you want to be around.

We should sell homes this way. We should romance the homes we show. We should make our clients feel special...like they are the only clients we have at the moment. We should reflect a positive attitude that makes them feel that they have chosen the best REALTOR. We should listen...really listen, so we know when we have found the perfect house for our buyers.

And let's not forget, flowers have a fragrance that lasts a long time...let's hope our clients remember us like that fragrance .... a long time.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

LAND PARK OPPORTUNITY!

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:29:37 -0400

You know that it is a unique property when the first thing that people incredulously say when they come in the door is "Is this a duplex? I couldn't tell!"

This home is in College Tract...one of the most desirable areas within Land Park. It offers options galore for the buyer. It is an ideal set up for a family that needs that extra space for in-laws, but still want privacy. The larger side is almost 2400 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. The smaller side is 1297 square feet and is a 2 bedroom one bath.

However, if a family is looking for a single family home with lots of space, this home can easily be converted to a 6 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home with over 3600 square feet!

The larger side features a spacious kitchen with new granite countertops and Jenn Aire gas range, all fresh interior paint and light fixtures. Hardwood floors shine throughout both sides. It also boasts a 2 car garage, some dual pane windows, and a basement that would make a great wine cellar!

Don't miss this great opportunity to purchase a prime Land Park home for $669,000!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

REALTORS WANT TO KNOW YOUR HOME!

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:03:23 -0400

If you had a horrible headache, would you go to your doctor and say "Just look at my head and tell me what's wrong."? If your car wouldn't start, would you tell your mechanic to just look at the hood and tell you why it won't start?

As strange as these questions might sound, there is a common misconception that REALTORS can tell a homeowner the value of their home by just looking at the outside. There is so much more that needs to be known about a property before an accurate assessment can be made on a property.

Just as a doctor needs to take x-rays, blood samples and other tests to determine the cause of your headache; just as your mechanic must see your engine, listen to it and inspect parts to determine why it won't start, REALTORS must see the interior of your home to know its true value.

Homes have personalities. Their floor plans vary from the shy many-walled home to the outgoing "great room" floor plan. Conditions vary from the old-timer that is cantakerous to the newbie that hasn't had a chance to show off its true character. There are homes that are suave and savvy and others that are simply fun-loving.

As REALTORS, it would be irresponsible to tell a homeowner the value of their home without getting to know their home, inside and out. Anything less would do no justice to the home or its owner.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

LAND PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - GREAT MEETING COMING UP!

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:47:20 -0400

For those of you who are following the big controversy about the "River Crossing", this Wednesday would be a great day to attend the monthly meeting of the Land Park Community Association. You will have the opportunity to listen to some of the proposed solutions to the need of West Sacramento to have better access to Sacramento as well as to ask questions.

Also, we will have the opportunity to learn more about theSetzer property and its proposed development. This should be of particular interest to residents west of Riverside Blvd as well as Realtors specializing in the area.

Also, we will be voting in 3 new board members to fill in vacated positions...so if you are a member, this is your chance to have a representative that reflects your viewpoint.

If you would like to attend, the meeting will be at Eskaton on Freeport Blvd at 6:30PM this Wednesday, August 18th. We would love to see you there!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

YOUR HOUSE IS NO LONGER YOUR RETIREMENT

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:56:27 -0400

This economy affects us all in one way or another. Jobs are lost, salaries are cut, home values go down and uncertainty reigns.

In planning for our eventual retirement, many of us included our homes in that equation. At some point in time, we would become empty nesters, no longer requiring the bedrooms and bathrooms that a family with at-home children demanded. We would move on, selling our larger living space for a more modest home. We would pay cash for our cozy space and use the balance of our equity as part of our retirement fund. At one time, it was a solid, responsible plan.

However, as with all things of this age, our plans must change. We can no longer rely on our homes to fund our retirement in full. We must make adjustments. Maybe we will still have to take out a small loan on the smaller abode. Maybe we will have to work a little longer to add to our retirement fund. Whatever that adjustment is, it will have to happen.

If your plan to retire starts now, do not think that your house is going to be the same contributor towards retiring that it once was. Listen to your REALTOR when they give you the value of your home. Your REALTOR doesn't know about your retirement plans. The value of your home is not directly related to those plans and a buyer is not going to generously finance more than the value of your home so they can fund your retirement plans.

You do have choices. You can wait several years to see if your equity builds back up to the number you are looking for. The vast majority of pundits are predicting 3-5 years before we even begin to see an uptick in values, so plan on being patient. You can live a little more frugally than you had originally planned. What you will probably not be able to do is keep your original retirement plan of 5 years ago.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

LAND PARK & SIERRA OAKS DUNNIGAN REALTORS ARE SHOWING OFF THIS SUNDAY!

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:49:39 -0400

I wrote a previous post about our company (Dunnigan, REALTORS) leaving Windermere Real Estate in order to return to our independent roots. This weekend, we are going to show off just how strong we are!

This Sunday afternoon, we are going to inundate the neighborhoods we specialize in with open houses! For a neighborhood company of around 50 agents in two office, hosting over 20 open houses in just a few neighborhoods is going to be something special! Buyers can visit homes for sale in Land Park, East Sacramento, Greenhaven and Pocket, just to name a few!

Our sellers are going to get the benefit of buyers seizing the opportunity to view all of the houses that appeal to them in one afternoon. We will get a chance show off our stuff! It's going to be a great afternoon!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

THE COMPANY'S IMPORTANT BUT...IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REALTOR!

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:11:33 -0400

You have decided that it is the right time to put your home on the market...there has been a job change, there is a new little one joining the family, the kids have left the nest, etc. By far and away, no doubt about it, the most important first step is bringing the right Realtor into the fray.

First, and most importantly, notice I said "REALTOR". The term means that the agent is a member of the National Association of REALTORS, a member of the state association and the local association of REALTORS. They are held to a higher standard of care than a licensee. You have the power to bring them before the Professional Standards Panel if they do not adhere to the National Association of REALTORS Code of Ethics, with some serious repercussions if there is a violation.

Now, you may think that the next step would be hiring the right company. Remember, REALTORS are, for the most part, independent contractors. This means that, while the company may have certain expectations of the REALTORS, they cannot demand specific actions. Now, certainly, the company may let the REALTOR go if they do not follow their guidelines but most will not. Why would they let a REALTOR go that was making them a profit?

Your REALTOR should be hired by you because they reflect the desires and the ethics that you demand from your representative. You should feel a trust between you and your REALTOR that brings a sense of calm to your selling experience. The last reason to hire a REALTOR is because they are telling you the price you want to hear. Hire your REALTOR because they have thoroughly explained the process. Hire your REALTOR because they have helped you understand what you need to do to maximize your net proceeds from the sale. Hire your REALTOR because they have shown you through referrals their ability to negotiate and represent your interests throughout the escrow. Hire your REALTOR because they specialize in your neighborhood and understand its idiosyncrasies.

Now, there will certainly be companies that specialize in your neighborhood, and you should most assuredly go to that company, but look deeply into the REALTORS that work there and find one that you truly feel you can trust.

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

IT....IS...A...SCAM!!!!!!!!!!

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:22:16 -0400

For the last time...it is NOT for rent! Don't send your checks to Africa! My seller is not temporarily living in Africa. Even though the e-mail address is his name and his name is at the bottom of the letter, he did not write it! Yes, the rental amount quoted is a steal...and the person collecting it is a thief!

I know it appears to be too inconsequential of a crime for the overworked police to deal with it. Craigs List has become the latest venue for thieves to steal from unsuspecting renters. They pay for a domain name that appears legitimate (usually the sellers name or the address of the property). Then they take out a free ad in Craigs List advertising the property that is listed for sale, listing it as a rental. The first communication sent out after interest is expressed is very gentle (although a bit illiterate). If the renter pursues it a little further, the letters get a little more forceful.

So, I am going to give renters searching on Craigs List some advice. If they can't meet you at the property with a key, it is probably a scam. If they ask you to send money before you have a key, it is a scam. If they live in Africa, IT IS MOST DEFINITELY A SCAM. If the rental price seems too good to be true, it is a scam. If you still don't believe it, go to the property, get the contact number for the listing agent and call them. Ask them if it is for rent....and they will tell you IT IS A SCAM!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

IT'S OVERPRICED...JUST CHECK ZILLOW OR REDFIN!

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:57:23 -0400

I am not a fan of Zillow or Redfin, but I also can't ignore them. Why? My clients use them and then call me to tell me what they want to see! So, I am aware of them, have to refute them sometimes and sometimes I just get a good giggle when their "Zestimate" is off by hundreds of thousands.

However, I used them the other day with one of my sellers. You see, the property is the best one, by far, in the neighborhood. No question about it. As a result, there are absolutely, positively no comparables to value the house. Where this house is over 3100 square feet on a third of an acre, most the others are, at best, 2400 square feet and at most on a quarter acre. We decided to list the home at $759,000, which I could provide comps for if I took into account smaller houses and adjust for the large descrepancy.

It's been 6 weeks with two buyers that love the house...and would write an offer...if they could see value... but they can't. After this long, it is pretty evident that, while I can show value on paper, buyers aren't buying into it. The easiest way to demonstrate this by showing my sellers what the buyers are looking at...Redfin and Zillow. Both show the value in the 5's. Redfin was more generous, but neither was in the ballpark.

Now, I do know that this house would sell in the high 6's, no problem. In fact, if we had started there, it would be in escrow. But we couldn't start there because that price won't support my clients retirement plans. We met the other day, I did my show and tell and explained why we are spinning our wheels. Free public sites are about as valuable as what the viewer pays for them, but are great for trying to show to a seller why the buyers don't think the value is there!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

I CAME HOME TODAY!

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:11:55 -0400

Since 1968, we have been a family run business known as Dunnigan, Realtors. We are truly a family, placing more emphasis on new agents fitting in than increasing the bottom line. The owners don't have their own offices...their desks are right among the desks of the Realtors. Uniquely, we completely trust each other...contracts can be left on desks with no concerns about another agent taking advantage of the exposure.

Then, 3 years ago, we realized that we weren't keeping up with technology, and thus not providing the level of professionalism that we wanted to give our agents and clients. We turned to Windermere Real Estate, another quality family run real estate firm out of Seattle with a great reputation and cutting edge technology. It was a good match at the time and we do not regret the move. However, over the past 3 years, more and more of the technology we required was being offered locally. Then Windermere sent down a mandate to all of their franchisees to eliminate their local name.

Dunnigan, Realtors is well known in the neighborhoods they work. We do not try to be all things to all people and feel strongly about our agents specializing in their selected neighborhoods. Giving up our name would be tantamount to starting over, as other than us, Windermere Real Estate does not have a strong branding in Sacramento.

So, this week we returned to our roots...and are thrilled to be back! Today our old signs came down and our new signs went up. We gathered at our house to exchange over 250 open house signs for new Dunnigan, Realtors signs. The blue is gone and our cranberry color is back! We are soooo exicted!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

OKAY...I LIED!

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:04:20 -0400

When I was in my immortal teens, the aging process just never was part of my world. I was quite sure I was going to be young forever....was there any other possibility? No way!

When I was in my ideal twenties, aging was a remote possibility, but way too far off to even consider the fact that it would happen to me....that was my mother's event!

When I was in my thirties, I finally realized that I would, indeed, age some day. But then, I was in my thirties and in that perfect time between youthful age and becoming "wise".

When I was in my forties, I accepted the fact that I would age. It wouldn't be so bad. I really wouldn't mind as long as my wrinkles were "happy" wrinkles that revealed a joyful and positive life.

I am now 58 and I LIED!!! I hate my "smiley" wrinkles! There is nothing redeeming about them! Maybe if they hadn't come with the wobble under my chin it wouldn't be so bad! Crows feet, happy or not, should just stay with the birds! And for some reason, gravity has taken hold...of everything! I don't feel wise...I feel ditzy! So, just a heads up....

Aging ain't for the faint hearted!

www.PaulaSwayne.com
CA DRE# 01188158

CURIOSITY VERSES A NEED TO KNOW...A FINE LINE

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:41:36 -0400

The real estate industry really is a unique animal. In what other industry is it considered perfectly acceptable to ask a complete stranger "How much do you owe on your home?" or "How much can you afford to spend on your home?"? It is usually asked with a little more tact, but the inquiry is still the same.

So, the question must be asked....how much do we have a right to know? Should lenders have a right to information that the Realtor may not have a right to know? If a purchaser has supplied their Realtor with a loan approval from a reputable lender, does the Realtor have a right to know the details of that loan?

As an example, a selling agent presents an offer and a loan approval letter to a listing agent. Negotiations take place and the offer is accepted. A week prior to close, it is discovered that one of the conditions of the loan is the buyer starting their job. Three days later, it is discovered that the buyer must also present a pay stub. Did the listing agent have a right to know that the entire loan was predicated on a job that the buyer had yet to start?

Some may respond that the details of the loan it is none of the listing agents business. Others may feel that a loan being contingent on starting a job is equivalent to the contingency of a buyers house selling. If neither one takes place, the loan falls apart. How much should have been shared between all parties?

This is a day and age of transparency. However, in serving the public, how much information is too much information? How far should personal information travel? The message is certainly contradictory. Lenders need extreme amounts of personal information...Realtors need the results of that information...but should all parties have access to all of the information? It's a fine line that is walked...and one that all parties should be mindful of.