I'm taking a sabbatical from this blog. I will return soon. In the meantime, please check out Tesa's Mystery Spot (www.tesasmysteryspot.blogspot.com) and The Pretty Princess (www.theprettyprincess-tesa.blogspot.com)

I know it took a while to go over the different personalities you may encounter as a buyer or seller. You may have even seen yourself in one of those examples. The postings weren’t meant to be a deterrent to buying and/or selling, they were meant to help.

Please keep a few of these items in mind: People are different. Situations are different. Your transaction will be Taylor-made for you. Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with negotiating the best terms for you. In fact, it is expected. However, the problems arise when one or both sides come to the table with unreasonable demands. Think of it this way, the sooner you all can come to an agreement, the sooner you’ll be able to move on. I can’t stress this point enough: Your Agent Is There to Help You! He/she is your personal agent. Seek his/her advice.


Log in on October 28, 2009 to learn a few qualities every good real estate agent should possess. See you soon!

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh
As I look at this awful arrangement I just sent out, I wonder why I try to post anything. Each time, I think I have the pictures and the text exactly how and where I want them. Yet, time and time again, the joke has been on me. At times it may look disheveled, but I hope you're getting something out of this. As always, I'll sit in front of my screen and talk to (okay, yell) at my computer, willing it to do the right thing. Sometimes it does, most times it doesn't. At the end of the day, I have to adopt the motto: Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh! ('Cause who knows how this will turn out!)

Greg & Gretchen Grudgeez

Their lovely home has been on the market for fifteen (15) days, and they’ve had over ten showings. After each showing, their real estate agent reviews the feedback with them. For the most part, the feedback has been positive. However, they receive a bit of feedback from one particular buyer that made an unflattering comment about the drapes in the formal living room.


My Advice: Greg and Gretchen, this happens more times than I care to remember. When you put your home on the market, you are opening it up to the public. Each person that comes through will have an opinion, and unfortunately, those opinions may differ from yours. So what if they don’t like your drapes? You’re not asking them to buy them. They’re yours, and you’re taking them with you! When that FOR SALE sign goes up in your front yard, you have to put on a full armor of feedback protection. If you choose to hold a grudge when that same buyer makes an offer, you may make negotiations difficult or nonexistent. Do the right thing…let it go.

Richie & Rhoda Ridiculouz

These wannabe buyers have listened to friends, and friends of friends about the bargains that can be found in the slow real estate market. By the time they’ve finished talking it up, the couple is under the impression that they will be able to find a mansion for less than $350 a month…because that’s the deal someone’s cousin got. They enlist the help of a real estate agent, and she shows them fixer uppers and short sale properties that fit within their budget. They find a turnkey home they fancy, and because of the ridiculous advice of non-professionals, demand that the sellers reduce the home another $25,000, provide a stainless steel appliance allowance, and pay all closing costs.

Couples like Richie and Rhonda make me want to scream, chuckle, then scream again!


My Advice: Richie and Rhonda, hear me, please! If your buddies aren’t trained, knowledgeable professionals, take their experiences with a grain of salt. It would be extremely rare if your experience was identical to theirs. Each real estate transaction is different because you are dealing with a different set of people with different wants, needs and financial standing. Now, in terms of your expectations for your future purchase, when is reality going to set in for the two of you? Listen to your agent. Look over the comparables that he or she is presenting to you, in addition to the condition of the desired home and that will give you a sense of what a fair offer is. If you still have your heels dug in, now is not the time for you to buy.

Dan & Deanna De’Sellerz
They have done all of the necessary repairs, updates and staging. The home is priced appropriately for the location and amenities. They’ve taken great measures to make sure the home shows well. The De’Sellerz want to sell their home so they can move to the next phase of their lives.

Simon & Sybil Seriouz

They’ve decided it’s time to purchase their first home, and began visiting Open Houses in the area. They meet a real estate agent that fit their needs, but they’re not sure what they can afford. Through the guidance of their new agent, Simon & Sybil meet with a reputable lender.

I have no doubt in my mind that if I were to poll 100 realtors, at least 98 would say that they pray for transactions between the DeSellerz and the Seriouz families. What the other two agents are hoping for, I don’t know.

My Advice: Dan & Deanna/Simon & Sybil, as much as we would love to pair the two of you together, it may never happen. Continue to do what you’re doing, with the knowledge and realization that you may encounter buyers/sellers that don’t share your sense of preparedness or the desire to handle the transaction in a manner that is beneficial to both sides. Don’t lose heart. Keep your eyes on the prize. One door closes, another one opens. (What other clichés can I throw in?) I could go on, but you will find that there is some truth to those sayings, and depending on the progress of the transaction, you may find yourself constantly using them to keep you going. Remember: stay focused…keep your head up…there’s some good in everyone…every cloud has a silver lining. (I knew I could muster up a few more!)

Buddy & Bonita Badnewz

They really want to buy a house. It’s very important that buy before the end of the year because their lease is up. Their agent takes them to half a dozen homes and they fall in love with one. After a bit of negotiating, their offer is accepted. However, every phone call they put in to their agent thereafter always goes like this: “Hey, it’s Buddy & Bonita. We’ve got bad news.”


Have you ever given someone a special ringtone so you know it’s them calling? Well if Buddy & Bonita’s agent did that, I can assure you there is a great amount of stomach churning when their song chimes through.


My Advice: Hopefully your agent has given you a checklist of items you’ll need to produce and in what time frame they are needed. If you’re dragging your feet just because, maybe it’s not the proper time for the two of you to purchase a home. Buddy & Bonita, whatever it is, you owe it to yourselves, your agent, and the sellers, to have your ducks in a row. When an offer is accepted, time is of the essence. Lenders will require certain information…get it to them. The home inspection needs to be scheduled…clear a block of time for this. I can’t say it enough: excuses and bad news will likely result in slowing down the process, creating negative attitudes, or sabotaging the entire deal altogether. Buddy and Bonita, get it together!