how do you know it's time to move on?

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

Walt Disney, American creator of Mickey Mouse

I was sitting at one of my favorite coffee houses this morning getting geared up for the week, when I was visited by an acquaintance who asked--how do you know it is time to move on and go someplace else? 

 

For me, it was time to move when the call to return to the country was so intense, where I longed to see an unobstructed sunrise and sunset, have room to breathe and a house with space for the imagination.  We had been dipping a toe in the water for years, until one day it hit me like a ton of bricks...it was time to go, and I felt it to my core. Our house was ready because we had been maintaining it all along, and it sold immediately.  It was relatively easy. Buying our next home was a different story, but I discovered when the timing is right, things just slide into place.

 

With selling your house, you have to be ready to go and not "kind of want to go someplace else."  It won't work unless you are fully in and committed to the journey--in your mind can you see your new house? in your heart are you ready to let go of the attachment? and in your body are you ready to move your life?  Of course there is a bit of physical work to be done--have the house in good condition so that someone else would want to buy it.  But by being ready in a holistic way, you make the process so much easier on yourself.  

 

So if you are wishfully looking to move and aren't sure about when, start looking and listening for the signs within yourself that it is time to move on to your next adventure.  Then take a deep breath,  set your intention, take a leap of faith and give me a call! :)   Then start packing because it sets the right energy in your home that you are leaving.

a vision for a little house

The question is not what you look at,

but what you see.

Henry David Thoreau, one of my favorite American Authors

We have this cottage house listed on 250 Old Kennett Road just outside of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania that is surrounded by beautiful country estates...it is all potential.  Over the last several years, it has been neglected like Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House (one of my favorite childhood stories).  It would be easy to see what is on the surface and be afraid to take a chance.  However, this is a house that will love you for every little improvement you make upon it.  It is has been standing for over a 100 years and is not going anywhere.  With a bit of imagination and of course an investment of patience and some money will yield a great home.  I wish I could adopt all the homes such as this...for I see their charm, warmth and beauty just waiting for the right person to uncover it.  Want to take a tour?

lights are on but nobody's home

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Thomas Alva Edison, American Inventor

Over the last months, I have been immersing myself in the works of great inventors and dreamers of the past 100 years.  Theirs are the tales of trial and error and looking for the opportunity in the present moment despite their circumstances.  Risk taking to reap the rewards, they were able to make great strides for humanity. We look back and say those were the "good old days" but I am convinced that we are in a similar time...when things are ready to change and advance...and yet we are focused on the pain of that growth. 

In my work as a Realtor, it is easy to get in step with the drumbeat of "it's a challenging market" but flipping that coin, I can get excited for my clients because it is a time of fabulous opportunity...interest rates are low, housing prices are low, and it is a great time to move.  "Well, that's fine and dandy if you don't have to sell your house" I am told.  However, look at it this way...we are all on sale and the house you want to buy is lower too.  Add to that the increased purchasing power resulting from low interest rates...the lightbulb should turn on.  So if you think big picture, and you know you would like to send your kids to college or have money invested for your future, purchasing a house makes incredible sense...buy low, rent it if you need, and sell later on when the market recovers.  This is just one idea, but imagine what else you could do by investing in the opportunity of today.  This could be the key to making your dreams come true.

Photo: Source

seeing our shadow

"Did you ever have de ja vu, Mrs. Lancaster?"

"I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen"

Phil Conors (Bill Murray) Groundhog Day.

If you haven't ever seen the movie Groundhog's Day with Bill Murray...run out and get a copy today. In brief, it is the story of Phil Conors, a weatherman, who goes to Punxsutawny, PA to witness if the groundhog sees his shadow. He wakes up to the same day over and again until he learns the lesson of becoming a better man. (That is really a nutshell and hardly does justice to the movie..."Am I right? Or am I right?")
We have been going through our own de ja vu as we have had repeated snow days here in eastern Pennsylvania...each day getting more extreme than the next. We definitely got to see our shadow side as cabin fever set in, and three kids who are dealing with all the pressures of the move let me have it.
Granted, life has changed dramatically for them...we have moved to a new country home that is very much the opposite of our former one, they are taking the school bus, in school with hundreds of kids, routines are different, missing friends...and suddenly we are reliving the same thing every day of "I wanna go home!!"
Moving with kids, much like the story of Phil Conors is about learning something new and becoming better than we were yesterday. At times, it is one step forward and two steps back, but learning to be patient and realizing this is a huge adjustment for everyone helps tremendously. Stop. Breathe. Find a good local restaurant for take-out and eat in the living room...show them that turning the world upside down can be great!
Many of the things we are discovering are fun...like the long icy driveway that is the best for skating and the mom-and-pop stores that wield treasures not found in chains, the hopes of spring and warmer weather...so we can open the pool!

10 challenges of my new home

I always entertain great hopes.
-Robert Frost, American Poet

Now that we have made it through settlement...it is starting to settle in...buying a 300 year old house does have its challenges. Not that I am one to run from a good challenge, but truth be told, there have been moments when I have questioned whether or not I over-did it this time. While I am absolutely in love and knew this place was the perfect home, there is a slight chance my rosy-colored glasses kept me from seeing the reality of all the work in store. Here are my ten challenges of my new home:

1. If the picture above didn't scare you away and you are still reading, you can guess my number one challenge...they don't pay the rent or clean up after themselves. Completely cute to their mother I am sure, but there's a reason we scream. Not sure how to evict them because they have been here longer. I have already been forbidden to get a cat since everyone in the house is sure they are allergic...stay tuned.
2. Chilly...never before have I used my sweaters more...should have been tipped off by all the fireplaces. Unfortunately someone along the line-up decided all the fireplace chimneys should be closed...most likely to keep out drafts, but how toasty would that be to have a fire in every one? Everyone is getting comforters and slippers for Christmas...need I say more?
3. Two-pronged outlets and having only one outlet in a room...if you are lucky. We have found outlets that must have been put there for status symbols because there is no wiring to make them live...all show and no volts. My very patient father-in-law came to the rescue with a bunch of grounded outlets...so zen!
4. Plaster walls...how do you hang anything on them and how do you fill in a hole that was a "whoops!"? You do have the benefit of quiet space because the walls are about 18 inches thick.
5. Period paint colors and windows being painted shut. Although I have done my share of painting, this one is going to be saved for a professional. We are just going to go room by room. Let me know if you have a favorite painter who knows older homes as I would love references.
6. Fitting my furniture in the assorted rooms sizes. Pottery Barn is a relatively new creation that doesn't necessarily work in the 18th century home, and this is a challenge when your pre-teen wants her room to look like the magazine.
7. Smaller closets...brings to mind the saying, "Live simply so that others may simply live." There is not enough room to change your mind in these closets...choose fewer and choose the best especially when it comes to shoes. Someone told me that they built them smaller so they would not be taxed for another "room"...I would have paid the tax.
8. Appliances that passed inspection, but mysteriously are not functioning the moment your pen touches the HUD1. Who was Murphy, and what's the deal with his law?
9. Cleaning up where someone left off...I am investing in a good vacuum and a good rake. Sometimes when people are moving out, they run out of time to leave it ship-shape for you. Be prepared to get busy right away.
10. My basement and attic that are the perfect sight for National Treasure 3. Someday they will be beautiful.

My brother said it best when he visited this weekend, "You have a project for every weekend for a 1,000 weeks." We are lucky to be in this home and over time like anything else, we will learn and grow from it. Whatever love we give this house will come right back to us as we transform this timeless space into our home. I'm still a believer!

it's not the market, it's your house

...house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.

J.R.R. Tolkien, English writer and author of the epic tale Lord of the RingsSorry for my absence! Many of you know that I just recently listed and sold my own house...and it went very quickly. Despite the advice that I was crazy for putting my house on the market just before the holidays, we did it anyway...and you know what? It sold the first day of showings! We were so grateful and were asked by many...how did you do it? After months of looking at other homes on the market, I have a little secret...it isn't the market, people are moving and looking for homes all the time despite what the newspapers report.
There are two main factors that affect a house in "this market"...price and condition. When a home is not priced properly, it becomes out of reach for the appropriate buyer, and today people are willing to "wait it out" if the price is not where it should be. An important step that a Realtor can do is to analyze other homes that are available...how does your house compare to similar houses? You have to sell a house three times: once to the buyer, once to the mortgage lender, and once to the inspector. Pricing is huge!

The next thing to consider is the condition of your home. Most buyers are not interested in the "needs a little TLC," "handyman special" or "shaggy carpet great for losing small children" look of homes. Question: how much spare time do you feel you have? None? Really? Cool, then you are like the rest of us...no one feels that they have extra time. So why would anyone want to come into a home that is going to be a project for them? There are some of us out there, but believe me, we are a small segment of the population. Your house has to be ready for the market...clean, fresh and uncluttered.Here are some of the things we did to get our house ready:

• Empty rooms of extra furniture and decorative elements to streamline and make the rooms feel more spacious. Since your goal is to move, start packing away some of those personal items you don't need every day such as photos, tchotchkes, papers & magazines...you get the picture.
• Take an honest look at your home. What needs to be cleaned or freshened? You would be amazed of the impact of fresh caulk, freshly painted rooms/trim, clean windows, manicured yard...generally making your home shine. I kept in my mind that I had some competition out there, and we wanted to not only be the best home on the market, but to give the "wow" factor. Having a home on the market a long time is exhausting...spend time upfront to get your house in its best form and you will save time on the sale side.
• Stay away from the smelly stuff...everyone has different likes and dislikes when it comes to smell. Nothing is better than clean and fresh.
• Consider doing a pre-listing inspection. Not only will it give you notice of what needs to be repaired, but it also gives your buyers peace of mind...you care about this house and did what you could to maintain it.
• Offer a home warranty to your buyers...this also gives you and your buyers peace of mind for a few hundred dollars. When you consider the things that seem to break on a house via Murphy's Law...this is great coverage to know that things will be taken care of once you are gone.
• Prepare yourself and your family for this adjustment. It was interesting to experience the feeling of having other people in my space critiquing our style and stuff. Something to keep in mind: "You don't have to be liked by every buyer, just one."
• If you have children and pets, make plans for how having your house on the market will affect their schedules. Children need to be included in the process because they can be extremely helpful with cleaning up their rooms and keeping the house tidy. I reminded my kids that if we did a good job keeping everything in good shape, we would sell it quickly and move on...they were awesome! Benji needed to be crated or removed each time we showed the house...a bit of a challenge, but it all worked out.
• Above all, have a positive attitude...I am a big believer that we send out energy all the time, and imagine the impact of walking into a home with good "vibes!" Clear the air with music, chimes, and bells.Now that we have completed all the inspections and negotiations, it is time to pack up this life we have created here and move on to the next stop along the journey. I can't help but bump into memories of bringing home new babies and the great times we had in this space with family and friends. We are truly grateful and have much to celebrate this Thanksgiving!

home buying 101

The universe is merely a fleeting idea in God's mind - a pretty uncomfortable thought, particularly if you've just made a down payment on a house.

-Woody Allen, American screenwriter, film director, actor, comedian, musician, and playwright

Buying your first home can be an exciting adventure...it can also be completely overwhelming.  Becoming familiar with the home buying process beforehand can take away a bit of stress.  Here are some tips:

1. 
   
   Get pre-approved:  Deciding how much home you are going to buy depends on your income, debt, and credit score among other things.  There are many resources online that can help you understand how much you can afford, but most realtors are going to want you to have this pre-approval done before you go home shopping.  It makes sense because it helps us find the right house in your target price.
2. Select a Realtor:  A house is one of the largest purchases you will make.  Why not take some time to chose an expert who has the skills, market knowledge and resources to guide the process?  One place to start is to ask friends/family for referrals.  You want to interview your Realtor because you are literally hiring them for the job of finding your house.  Be prepared to discuss what is important to you...and make sure they listen...this is key!
3. Want List/Wish List:  Drive around your area, talk to people who live there, and go to open houses.  Find out what you really like about location, condition and style of homes.  The more educated you are on what you want, the more successful your Realtor will be in finding it.  Keep the want list/wish list mindset because no house is going to be perfect...what are the deal-breakers and what are things you can accept not having?  
4. House shop:  Start online by looking at homes in your area.  Most of the initial selection can be done while you surf the web in your jammies.  Your Realtor can also send you homes via the Multi-List System (MLS).  Once you have narrowed your search, time to go driving to see the homes phyically.  Typically people need to see about 10-12 homes to know which one they want to purchase.  Seeing many more than this is just overcomplicating the process and will make it more difficult.  When you go into a home, ask yourself:  "Could I see myself living here?"  Three things to consider in order of importance:  Location, Price, Condition...the first thing you can't change, but the other two are negotiable.
5. Investment:  A first home is typically not your last home you will purchase, so consider the investment value.  What activity is the neighborhood experiencing?  How have home values held over the years?  Your Realtor can do a comparative market analysis to help you understand this.
6. Papers, Papers, Papers!  As in any contractual process, there is a lot of paperwork!  Ask your Realtor to review all the terms with you...you are taking a big step, and you need to know what your obligations are.
7. Disclosures:  Most jurisdictions require property disclosures that explain what has been done to the property, the condition of the property as well as what will be included in the sale price.  It is important to carefully review this because once you sign the disclosure statement, you are agreeing to the terms.  Make sure you ask for additional information to clarify any issue before signing. 
8. Home Buying Process:  Once you find the home of your dreams and are ready to make an offer, the process really takes off, and your Realtor should be able to help you manage the negotiation of the price/terms you will accept.  First, the seller will receive/review the offer...and possibly make a counter-offer.  You then have the opportunity to review the counter if there is one, or if the seller accepts your offer, you have a contract to buy that home.  The next steps deal with home inspections (structural, termite, radon, etc depending on your locality) and financing (which bank is going to give you the money for your purchase?).  This part of the process can take a few weeks, and it is important that your Realtor help you navigate smoothly.
9. Home Warranties:  Having a home warranty on a property can be a big plus because they can provide repair or replacement coverage of major home operating systems and sometimes appliances.  This provides peace of mind...especially for your first time owning a home.
10. Walk this way!  Before you finalize your purchase, it is important to do one last walk-through to verify that the property is in the condition that you agreed upon.  You also want to insure that any require repairs have been completed.
11. Settlement:  At settlement or closing, you will be signing to take title of the property.  Before this can happen, many actors have to have done their work.  Here are some of the basics: 
1. 
   
   A title company does a search on the property to make sure it can indeed be transferred to you without liens or incumbrances.
2. The bank has to have your mortgage ready to go.
3. Insurance needs to be provided to cover your new home.
4. Inspections have all been complete and repairs made.
5. You have to have money for any closing costs.
6. There are more items such as having the utilities turned on, moving companies, etc. which your Realtor can assist.

Pride of home ownership is a huge part of the American dream!  While the process can be overwhelming, help is available to make sure the process goes smoothly.  If you have any questions...I'm just a click away!