Here comes June! Got 4 listings going and about to list our home too. We just finished painting the house and de-brassing. Still have to put the home back together. Now we can start marketing! In the meantime, Tracey and I are going to operate a fireworks tent on Almaville Road. We start that on June 18. I think it will be lots of fun and will fit well within my business plan. It will help me get my name out and will give me an opportunity to meet folks. I am pretty excited about it. On that note, if you are in my mailing list, look for a coupon coming your way on my next marketing piece. If you aren't on the list, let me know and I will add you.
I have been praying about one of my listings in particular. We have been on the market for a while and need to get some traffic and, more importantly, an offer! It is such a great home in the Cane Ridge area. Its over 3,700 square feet and in superb condition. My clients are offering $7k toward closing which is enough to cover pretty much anyone's costs. It's close to the schools, has a huge kitchen, bonus and garage, is on a creek and did not flood! Come see it!!
On the personal front, life is good, mostly. I have been extremely busy between real estate, working for Jo, working for my dad, planning for the fireworks tent and church involvement. I have some friends here and there that are struggling. When my good friends hurt, I hurt, ya know what I mean? Brandon's Granny's home was badly damaged in the flood and I am trying to gather some info for them to plan with. Then there are some other pieces of "drama" going on. Hodge got married and did it totally Hodge style. Congrats to them. I am looking forward to the Indy 500 this weekend and then Gatlinburg next weekend.
Post a comment and tell me what your favorite thing to do in the Smokies is. We are taking my aunt and cousin and they have never been.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Time Flies when You're Selling Homes!
I can't believe it is already 2/3 through May! I have a closing this Thursday. Tamara, bless her heart, will FINALLY get her home. It has been a long, l o n g , l o n g process. God willing, it will all be over in about 48 hours. I am so happy for her. I think we have developed a lasting friendship through this and I hope she is willing to stay in touch. I have a closing next Thursday as well (assuming we can get through the financing--RD is dried up). This one is particularly exciting to me as it is a young man that I met when I was his wrestling coach. He is such a good guy and has worked his butt off to get where he is so quickly. I know that Jeremy and Amanda will be real success stories as long as they keep doing what they are doing!
Aside from those, the flood has really been at the forefront of everyone's mind here in Middle TN. You all know that there has been tremendous financial loss. Weichert has "adopted" a fellow in River Plantation and is trying to help him get his life back together. If you get a chance, check out the video that Mickie, one of the owners, posted on YouTube about Carl and his situation (video is here). We were thankfully, personally not affected too much. We did drive through some serious water and Cindy's van is making a noise (I know, not smart, but we had to get home). Brandon's granny suffered a pretty devastating loss and a few others from church had some severe damage. Dad and I got to do a little work in driveways because of it though.
As far as listings go, I have 4 up on the market now. I just listed Jeremy and Amy today and hope it will go quickly for them. Thankfully people are starting to look again. I really want to get the Gastineaus sold as they have been on the market since November. It has just been tough in their neck of the woods. The really puzzling thing is that their home is FREAKING NICE and is priced so well. I just gotta get more people in the door! The Chunns are also waiting. They have such a cute little home in a great neighborhood and are priced nicely too. I think for them, the tax credit running out, coupled with the flood diverting attention away have slowed things down. I see it picking back up for them in the next couple weeks though. Then there's the big house. We have had some really positive activity there and hope we can break some stuff loose on it real soon. I know that Charles and Lori are ready to get going. Cindy and I will have our home up in the next two weeks or so and are excited about that. We have worked hard at getting the home ready. Hopefully it will go quickly also!
Aside from those, the flood has really been at the forefront of everyone's mind here in Middle TN. You all know that there has been tremendous financial loss. Weichert has "adopted" a fellow in River Plantation and is trying to help him get his life back together. If you get a chance, check out the video that Mickie, one of the owners, posted on YouTube about Carl and his situation (video is here). We were thankfully, personally not affected too much. We did drive through some serious water and Cindy's van is making a noise (I know, not smart, but we had to get home). Brandon's granny suffered a pretty devastating loss and a few others from church had some severe damage. Dad and I got to do a little work in driveways because of it though.
As far as listings go, I have 4 up on the market now. I just listed Jeremy and Amy today and hope it will go quickly for them. Thankfully people are starting to look again. I really want to get the Gastineaus sold as they have been on the market since November. It has just been tough in their neck of the woods. The really puzzling thing is that their home is FREAKING NICE and is priced so well. I just gotta get more people in the door! The Chunns are also waiting. They have such a cute little home in a great neighborhood and are priced nicely too. I think for them, the tax credit running out, coupled with the flood diverting attention away have slowed things down. I see it picking back up for them in the next couple weeks though. Then there's the big house. We have had some really positive activity there and hope we can break some stuff loose on it real soon. I know that Charles and Lori are ready to get going. Cindy and I will have our home up in the next two weeks or so and are excited about that. We have worked hard at getting the home ready. Hopefully it will go quickly also!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Breather
Well, it has been a tumultuous past few weeks and I have neglected my blogging desires. Here is the low down, we finally got Sam and Candace's house closed. The Wednesday after my previous blog, we signed everything and the buyer signed everything. Then BofA would not send the wire because the numbers they had in their system did not match our HUD (that THEY approved!!!!). They said it was a glitch in their system and they got it worked out. By Friday, we had it closed. Halla freaking lu yah!!! So then, a little less than a week after the new family moved in, guess what--they got broken into!!!! Two guys kicked in the back door (hard enough that it broke the door and frame out of the hole) and demolished the inside--holes in wall, tears in vinyl floor, broken dishes, etc. What a nightmare for those folks!
In the meantime, I also closed for a buyer in between Smyrna and Murfreesboro, am nearing the closing for a short sale for a first time buyer and picked up a SUWEET listing in between Smyrna and Nolensville. I have had 3 open houses in two weeks and have another one this Sunday (in the SUWEET listing). If you want to check out the SUWEETNESS come to 7182 Lee Road in Smyrna on Sunday from 2-4. I have also busied myself with other eclectic ventures. I have hauled off over 30,000 pounds of scrap metal and aluminum in the past 3 weeks (including a combine that Jonas calls Frank) and secured a location for a fireworks tent for this summer (Almaville Road by the Interstate). I upped my handy husband status several times with a few landscaping projects, a newly installed garbage disposal and a cool tent for Jonas. I have been helping Jo with her catering business and have been working with the college kids at church. All this and I still find time to watch Dr. Phil and eat bon-bons (whatever those are).
Well, I just wanted to post a little. I am going to go and help Jo put together the Cat in the Hat cake.
In the meantime, I also closed for a buyer in between Smyrna and Murfreesboro, am nearing the closing for a short sale for a first time buyer and picked up a SUWEET listing in between Smyrna and Nolensville. I have had 3 open houses in two weeks and have another one this Sunday (in the SUWEET listing). If you want to check out the SUWEETNESS come to 7182 Lee Road in Smyrna on Sunday from 2-4. I have also busied myself with other eclectic ventures. I have hauled off over 30,000 pounds of scrap metal and aluminum in the past 3 weeks (including a combine that Jonas calls Frank) and secured a location for a fireworks tent for this summer (Almaville Road by the Interstate). I upped my handy husband status several times with a few landscaping projects, a newly installed garbage disposal and a cool tent for Jonas. I have been helping Jo with her catering business and have been working with the college kids at church. All this and I still find time to watch Dr. Phil and eat bon-bons (whatever those are).
Well, I just wanted to post a little. I am going to go and help Jo put together the Cat in the Hat cake.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
The incompetence continues
This is a follow up to the previous blog. Well, where to begin. So we go to closing on Friday and my clients (the sellers) sign their documents. Everything is rosy and then the buyer says he won't sign because BofA got the mortgage insurance wrong. First, we didn't believe him, then, sure enough, they did--and they admitted it! They were trying to charge him mortgage insurance monthly AND annually! The crazy part is, he had corrected them on this 3 TIMES in the past two weeks and they sent it through wrong anyway!!!!!!
Fast forward to Wednesday (yesterday). We get the package again and all the numbers have been changed but appear to be correct. Jenny (the closer) prepares the HUD 1 and sends it for approval. The person at BofA says it is wrong. Jenny asks why. They have a different loan amount in their system than what is on the HUD. It is off by over $4,000!! So Jenny talks to the lady and she says that if Jenny does these few steps, everything will be fine. Jenny does that and the HUD is done. Everyone signs the stuff and the people move in. This morning rolls around and guess what, there is no money in the wire. Jenny calls and BofA says you have to send in the signed HUD first. So she sends it and they are not going to release funds because the number on the HUD and the number in their system does not match!!!! Of course the lady Jenny talked to is off today. Jenny and a new lady go rounds and the buyer calls and goes rounds. Then BofA admits they are wrong. It is a "glitch" in their system. In the meantime, we don't have the money. It is after time for them to send wire transfers. Right now we are at the mercy of BofA to send the wire by noon tomorrow. If they don't we have to re-do EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!
How does a place this freakin incompetent stay afloat? I have heard people say will they are overwhelmed or they have a bunch of new people or they are just too big. If any of that is true, then they need to do the right thing and turn down business. They need to acknowledge the fact that they suck and only handle the business they are capable of handling properly. In the meantime, they are screwing up lives. I know that sounds overly dramatic but you know what, your home is a SIGNIFICANT part of your life. For the vast majority of folks it is the LARGEST investment they have and will ever have. I know now that I am going to shy away from clients that finance with BofA. I will highly encourage them to go somewhere that still believes in delivering what they say they will. Somewhere where I can get the same person on the phone and can go look them in the eye if I need to. Too big to fail? How about too big to care, too big to function properly, too big to serve individual people anymore. You have lost your soul BofA.
Fast forward to Wednesday (yesterday). We get the package again and all the numbers have been changed but appear to be correct. Jenny (the closer) prepares the HUD 1 and sends it for approval. The person at BofA says it is wrong. Jenny asks why. They have a different loan amount in their system than what is on the HUD. It is off by over $4,000!! So Jenny talks to the lady and she says that if Jenny does these few steps, everything will be fine. Jenny does that and the HUD is done. Everyone signs the stuff and the people move in. This morning rolls around and guess what, there is no money in the wire. Jenny calls and BofA says you have to send in the signed HUD first. So she sends it and they are not going to release funds because the number on the HUD and the number in their system does not match!!!! Of course the lady Jenny talked to is off today. Jenny and a new lady go rounds and the buyer calls and goes rounds. Then BofA admits they are wrong. It is a "glitch" in their system. In the meantime, we don't have the money. It is after time for them to send wire transfers. Right now we are at the mercy of BofA to send the wire by noon tomorrow. If they don't we have to re-do EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!
How does a place this freakin incompetent stay afloat? I have heard people say will they are overwhelmed or they have a bunch of new people or they are just too big. If any of that is true, then they need to do the right thing and turn down business. They need to acknowledge the fact that they suck and only handle the business they are capable of handling properly. In the meantime, they are screwing up lives. I know that sounds overly dramatic but you know what, your home is a SIGNIFICANT part of your life. For the vast majority of folks it is the LARGEST investment they have and will ever have. I know now that I am going to shy away from clients that finance with BofA. I will highly encourage them to go somewhere that still believes in delivering what they say they will. Somewhere where I can get the same person on the phone and can go look them in the eye if I need to. Too big to fail? How about too big to care, too big to function properly, too big to serve individual people anymore. You have lost your soul BofA.
Friday, March 26, 2010
A certain large financial institution
Ok, so there is this one particular financial institution that the federal government deemed too large to fail. I will allow it to remain nameless but lets just say it can be found in most any city in America I know exactly why the government saved this bank. Its because they are run the same way. If it can be done inefficiently, thats how this bank does it. So far in my fledgling career, I have had 3 interactions with this bank. All three have been lousy. The first one was with a "local" branch (which is laughable by the way). The young man purchasing my first listing went through them. We closed about 2 weeks late (a little over 6 weeks after binding agreement). Why, you ask? Because the guy didn't have a credit score and they had to do actual underwriting. It completely freaked them out. Selling Sam and Candace's house, I am dealing with these folks again. The loan guy will not ever answer his phone or return calls. We are already about 3 weeks after the "realistic" closing date. We bumped the date to this past Wednesday. On Tuesday he tells the closer on our side that he needs 24-48 hours to complete this one extra task. Do we have anything yet, NO!!! Meanwhile Sam and Candace are incurring charges every day on their house. On the other side, we are buying a home in short sale with this particular institution. It is going somewhat smoother but still, the communication is lacking. They keep everything secret. A tip for them, let folks know what is going on and what to expect. If you don't meet your own deadline, let people know. It's called customer service. Apparently when you are too big to fail and nanny government will always bail you out, you forget what customer service is (or perhaps you just plain don't care).
Addendum: I understand that some people will say, just go somewhere else. The problem I am having is that I never solicited their business. Buyers of my listings have come to the table with them as business partners. I am at their mercy and my client's (much more importantly) are at their mercy. It seems as if they take their time because they can. I also understand that the actions of a few do not indicate the performance of everyone in the company, but, I am 3 for 3. 100% of my interactions have been lousy. I also know that the bailout money is not the cause of the bad service. They were lousy before the bailout. That's probably why they had to have it!!
My advice, if there are good people at the local level, let them run it. Decentralize and allow efficiency to take over. Quite being so dadgum big and corporate and inefficient! Remember, the customer is the first part of customer service. For all of you out there, stay away from this bank. They tell everyone that they are struggling with the overwhelming amount of work. Help them out by not giving them any more work to worry about.
Addendum: I understand that some people will say, just go somewhere else. The problem I am having is that I never solicited their business. Buyers of my listings have come to the table with them as business partners. I am at their mercy and my client's (much more importantly) are at their mercy. It seems as if they take their time because they can. I also understand that the actions of a few do not indicate the performance of everyone in the company, but, I am 3 for 3. 100% of my interactions have been lousy. I also know that the bailout money is not the cause of the bad service. They were lousy before the bailout. That's probably why they had to have it!!
My advice, if there are good people at the local level, let them run it. Decentralize and allow efficiency to take over. Quite being so dadgum big and corporate and inefficient! Remember, the customer is the first part of customer service. For all of you out there, stay away from this bank. They tell everyone that they are struggling with the overwhelming amount of work. Help them out by not giving them any more work to worry about.
Friday, March 12, 2010
I will never have another very first opening night
Well, it's done. I have had my very first opening night. What an experience! The room we waited in was hot and crowded. I kept my son on a little bitty foam couch for 2 hours, we dropped a few lines (not as many as I expected) but all in all, we did very well! The audience was great. They took a little time to warm up (perhaps it was us taking a little time to warm up for them) but by the time we got to the really funny parts, they were rolling. I have discovered that Vanessa, Sherry and Nathan are all pretty frickin brilliant. Sherry portrays her character PERFECTLY. Vanessa and Nathan are just really sharp witted and play off everything. The rest of the cast did a great job too, but these three in my opinion stole the show. Jessica saved our butts once also--thanks very much for that.
I had a wager going on my facebook about how many times I would puke. The good news is that I did not puke or dry heave at all! So I guess everyone that said I would be fine won the pool. What do you win--my undying appreciation for your support--CONGRATS and thanks for playing.
Jonas did a great job too. He was confined to a very small space for almost 2 hours. Of course, he had the undivided attention of a pretty young teenager so I am sure that helped but even so, he was well behaved, cheerful and generally a pleasure. When it was his turn, he did his part very well, adding a great little twist to the play. I am so proud of the little guy. Ok, I also bribed him with ice cream. When we left, we went to the McDonald's right there on Church and Broad. As I pulled up to the drive through, they turned all the lights off. I was 5 minutes before they closed! I said something to the effect of "you gotta be kidding me." The guy came over the intercom and I asked for an ice cream cone. He said the machine was down. What a bum!!!! I figured I could go to Sonic because it is open late (was around 11). They were closed. I ended up stopping at the BP and getting him a nutty buddy. I had to make good on the promise--otherwise the bribe wouldn't work tonight!!!!
Well, it was a great night. I hope plenty of others get a chance to see the play. There is a great message and some really funny parts.
I had a wager going on my facebook about how many times I would puke. The good news is that I did not puke or dry heave at all! So I guess everyone that said I would be fine won the pool. What do you win--my undying appreciation for your support--CONGRATS and thanks for playing.
Jonas did a great job too. He was confined to a very small space for almost 2 hours. Of course, he had the undivided attention of a pretty young teenager so I am sure that helped but even so, he was well behaved, cheerful and generally a pleasure. When it was his turn, he did his part very well, adding a great little twist to the play. I am so proud of the little guy. Ok, I also bribed him with ice cream. When we left, we went to the McDonald's right there on Church and Broad. As I pulled up to the drive through, they turned all the lights off. I was 5 minutes before they closed! I said something to the effect of "you gotta be kidding me." The guy came over the intercom and I asked for an ice cream cone. He said the machine was down. What a bum!!!! I figured I could go to Sonic because it is open late (was around 11). They were closed. I ended up stopping at the BP and getting him a nutty buddy. I had to make good on the promise--otherwise the bribe wouldn't work tonight!!!!
Well, it was a great night. I hope plenty of others get a chance to see the play. There is a great message and some really funny parts.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Catching My Breath!!
Wow!! It has been a flippin busy past few...uhh...however long.
In the past 2 weeks I got an offer and negotiated a contract on Sam and Candace's house. We should close mid-March. It was (is) an interesting transaction to say the least. We have parties involved that live in Boston, travel to Japan and are buying in Christiana. Quite a mix!! I picked up a listing in East Nashville, got an offer on it and am in the process of negotiating it. I picked up a listing in my neighborhood and have a coming soon sign in that yard. I am taking a new buyer out tomorrow and will hopefully find him a home quickly. All this and I am studying hard for a role in a play (more details in a minute), co-teaching a class at church, playing Mr. Mom, and have been working hard to win the Biggest Loser contest at work (which I did win, by the way--go me).
The Play--So, I am in this play, right. I have never acted (except acting up as a youth, I don't act up any more--see my halo?). I always wanted to but never took the time to work on it. I am in a group called Consider This Productions. It is quite a fun group. Barry Hardy is the "leader" of the group (when we let him). We are currently rehearsing "The Curious Savage." I play Titus Savage, Senator Titus Savage. Sherry Gastineau is my sister--Lily Belle Savage and Sam Channel is my brother, Samuel Savage. The three of us are real snots. We have our mother (Kim Chunn playing Ethel Savage) committed. Not that Kim shouldn't be committed, but we don't do it for the right reasons (when there are so many reasons to pick from!). Daniel Chunn, Nathan Chunn, Vanessa Maleare (sorry, I probably spelled that wrong), Nancy Wells, and Hannah Gastineau are all crazy people in the play (and outside the play). Danny Wells is the good doctor and Jessica Wells is the nurse that keeps things running. My character is a real blowhard. I yell and get angry a lot and really don't have a ton of substance to me. It will be very easy for the audience to dislike me. It will be even easier to dislike Sherry. Her character is a cross between Cruella Deville, Ms. Hannigan from Annie and Carol Burnette. Sam is just a limp noodle. We will be performing on March 11, 12, 13 and 18, 19, 20 (Thursdays through Saturdays) on the 15th floor of the NHC building in Murfreesboro (the lone skyscraper in the 'boro). I am really excited. Last night Barry complimented us on our facial expressions. Given the intimacy of this venue (the audience will be within about 2 feet of the actors), we will really be able to convey emotions and expressions. It should be awesome. I just hope I don't screw it up for everyone else!!
At church I am going through a survey of world religions. This past Sunday we looked at Bahai Faith. What an interesting religion! Basically, they believe that the God represented in the various major religions of the world is the same God and that all the various prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, etc.) are messengers from God and that the individual messages are revelations that get increasingly more sophisticated in order to reveal more about God each time. I don't agree with them, but I do find it quite a fascinating take on things. What do you think?
Oh yeah, and there have been the headaches, car repair place stealing my cable, getting in trouble at the post office, the stupid gym, and some others--but who likes to dwell on bads stuff when God is so good?
In the past 2 weeks I got an offer and negotiated a contract on Sam and Candace's house. We should close mid-March. It was (is) an interesting transaction to say the least. We have parties involved that live in Boston, travel to Japan and are buying in Christiana. Quite a mix!! I picked up a listing in East Nashville, got an offer on it and am in the process of negotiating it. I picked up a listing in my neighborhood and have a coming soon sign in that yard. I am taking a new buyer out tomorrow and will hopefully find him a home quickly. All this and I am studying hard for a role in a play (more details in a minute), co-teaching a class at church, playing Mr. Mom, and have been working hard to win the Biggest Loser contest at work (which I did win, by the way--go me).
The Play--So, I am in this play, right. I have never acted (except acting up as a youth, I don't act up any more--see my halo?). I always wanted to but never took the time to work on it. I am in a group called Consider This Productions. It is quite a fun group. Barry Hardy is the "leader" of the group (when we let him). We are currently rehearsing "The Curious Savage." I play Titus Savage, Senator Titus Savage. Sherry Gastineau is my sister--Lily Belle Savage and Sam Channel is my brother, Samuel Savage. The three of us are real snots. We have our mother (Kim Chunn playing Ethel Savage) committed. Not that Kim shouldn't be committed, but we don't do it for the right reasons (when there are so many reasons to pick from!). Daniel Chunn, Nathan Chunn, Vanessa Maleare (sorry, I probably spelled that wrong), Nancy Wells, and Hannah Gastineau are all crazy people in the play (and outside the play). Danny Wells is the good doctor and Jessica Wells is the nurse that keeps things running. My character is a real blowhard. I yell and get angry a lot and really don't have a ton of substance to me. It will be very easy for the audience to dislike me. It will be even easier to dislike Sherry. Her character is a cross between Cruella Deville, Ms. Hannigan from Annie and Carol Burnette. Sam is just a limp noodle. We will be performing on March 11, 12, 13 and 18, 19, 20 (Thursdays through Saturdays) on the 15th floor of the NHC building in Murfreesboro (the lone skyscraper in the 'boro). I am really excited. Last night Barry complimented us on our facial expressions. Given the intimacy of this venue (the audience will be within about 2 feet of the actors), we will really be able to convey emotions and expressions. It should be awesome. I just hope I don't screw it up for everyone else!!
At church I am going through a survey of world religions. This past Sunday we looked at Bahai Faith. What an interesting religion! Basically, they believe that the God represented in the various major religions of the world is the same God and that all the various prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, etc.) are messengers from God and that the individual messages are revelations that get increasingly more sophisticated in order to reveal more about God each time. I don't agree with them, but I do find it quite a fascinating take on things. What do you think?
Oh yeah, and there have been the headaches, car repair place stealing my cable, getting in trouble at the post office, the stupid gym, and some others--but who likes to dwell on bads stuff when God is so good?
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