Balancing Work, Family and Life

Before my son was born I worked a traditional work schedule. M-F, 8-5. I had 3 weeks of vacation. My weekends were jam packed with friends, family, eating out, hanging out, comedy clubs, bars, etc.... It was really quite gluttonous. Then we had a baby and I made a drastic career change. This could be a whole other blog post- Making Huge Life Decisions While on Maternity Leave. I do think I will revisit this topic, soon!

Anywho- Now I have a kid and am an Independent Contractor (which is code for I am my own boss)My husbands hours and days off have also changed. He is a Cincinnati Police Officer (shout out to the 5-0!) His schedule has varied greatly over the last 10 years, and presently, his off days rotate. (This is code for we never a day off together anymore) I work lots of nights and weekends due to demand but I do control my own schedule. Because I have been selling Real Estate exclusively in a down market, I have really felt compelled to be readily accessible for my clients. I think this is partially why I have had success in a time when many Realtors are packing up and shipping out. I also think that certain aged clients have come to expect immediate results. I always wonder if I tell someone no, will they just google the next person until they get a yes? Who hasn't tried to get into the Doctor for an issue that has been bugging you for a while, and then been told you can't be seen for 2 months? Next step, google local Doctors and start calling! Now- I would never be so inaccessible that I would make a client wait 2 months, but you get my point.

Due to all of the aforementioned circumstances, I have found it really difficult to ever give myself an entire day off. I have taken two vacations since having this new life and ended up working both times. The first time, I didn't mind it. This last time, I made an effort not to work, but it still happened and I was a little upset with myself. As my next vacation slowly approaches, I am finding myself trying to plan in advance.

Please know that I am not at all complaining! I hate being bored. This life I lead is no longer boring. I never know what is going to happen when I wake up in the morning. I meet new clients daily and I love it. What I do know is that while I love that each day is different, I am not at all balancing work and family the way I want to be.

I guess I am looking for suggestions and input. It probably seems easy and obvious, but this is something I have been working on for a while and still can't seem to get it right. I think this is something we all need, whether we are 9-5ers, stay at home Moms, or single entrepreneurs. If we don't have balance, eventually we will fall down. I really hate falling down. I would love some interaction on this post, so please, let me have it!

Watch Your Facebook Posts- Your House Could Suffer.

In the age where everyone is connected, whether it be on Facebook, Linked in, Twitter, etc. (whatever your pleasure might be) We have all become a little more open about our lives. As a Realtor, I feel particularly exposed, having all of my personal contact all over the web for anyone to see. This summer I would like to offer my two sense on the #1 thing, NOT to do while you are out of town. Don't post pictures or comments about being out of town or on vacation!

Of course, we all want to share funny stories of the travel time, and beautiful pictures of ourselves in our bathing suits.. Yeah, right! Well, maybe beautiful pictures of the view from the balcony or a sunset at the beach. I love seeing my friends and family enjoying their well deserved trips, but I also cringe just a little when I see these types of internet posts. The main reason is because you are notifying everyone you know that you are out of town.

 Attention all criminals: My family and I are currently out of town (probably for a weekend or maybe a week if you are lucky) Feel free to come break into my house and to steal all of my possessions. I am heading out for a margarita now!

Even if you have all of your passwords protected and you block public views to your social media profiles, this is not smart! Sometimes you have connections online who are mere acquaintances. Maybe they share your information with their not so nice friends who happen to prey on vacationing Facebookers. Forget about leaving the front porch light on, you might as well leave the front door open if you are posting information like this on the internet. Someone who shouldn't see it, very well might. Can you imagine coming home to find your house ransacked all because you were sharing fun posts about your vacation on FB? Not to be Debbie Downer, but it happens, and it happens quite frequently.

So- what I like to do, I wait until I return from vacation and then post the pictures of my hubby in his speedos walking down the beach. Once you are back home, you can talk about all the wonderful times you had on vacation without unintentionally inviting intruders into your home.

Keep Pests From Eating Your Greens

Its that time of the year where we are all planting flowers and vegetables and our green thumbs are in full force. Save yourself the heart ache and prevent all of your hard work from being undone by natures neighbors.

Backyard pests--squirrels, rabbits, moles--can destroy your landscaping and lawns. Here’s how to get rid of the ravenous critters.

Rabbit rascals
Calling cards: Ravaged vegetables, beheaded borders and flowers (especially tulips), and gnawed trees, such as red maple, honey locust, and evergreens.
Protection: Install 2-ft.-high fences that extend to the ground or below ($50 for 100 ft. of galvanized poultry fencing). Surround young tree trunks with plastic tree guard cylinders ($10).
Change habitat: Eliminate piles of brush, barricade cozy spots under sheds, and flatten back-lot debris piles where rabbits nest. Ivy, wisteria, and periwinkle will curb the munching, and fragrant herbs like thyme and lavender will turn them away.
Squirrely pests
Calling cards: Bumps in the night because they nest in your attic; power loss due to frayed wires; missing vegetables and flower bulbs; quickly emptied bird feeders.
Protection: Plug house entry places, such as gaps around utility pipes, broken windows, and uncapped chimneys. Cover wires with plastic pipe that will rotate, causing the squirrel to fall ($2.50 for a 2-ft. section). Sandwich bulbs underground between two layers of wire mesh ($175 for 100 ft. of 24-inch wire mesh).

Change habitat: Trim tree branches 6 to 8 ft. from buildings so squirrels can’t jump onto your roof. Switch to squirrel-proof tilting bird feeders ($25 and up) or domed feeders that close when weight limits are exceeded. Don’t plant oak trees--acorns are squirrel caviar.
Gopher/mole problems
Calling cards: Dirt mounds, lawns pocked with ankle-breaking holes, power loss due to damaged underground utilities; weakened trees due to gnawed roots; missing plants.
Protection: Install mesh fencing 18 inches deep with one-half inch or smaller openings (25 sq. ft. for $175). Trapping is the best way to eliminate gophers and moles. Scissor-jaw or choker-loop traps will snag star-nosed and hairy-tailed moles ($15 for two). Gopher traps look like a twisted mess, but they quickly snap and trap ($15 for a pair). Both can be cleaned and reused.
Change habitat: Since they like easy-to-tunnel, well-watered lawns, try compacting soil and cutting down on irrigation. But moles and gophers are so adaptable that habitat changes won’t keep them out, just slow them down.
Deer disturbance
Calling cards: Flowering plants nibbled to the nubs; leaves torn from plants from ground level to 6 ft.; 2-inch gouges on tree trunks; hoof prints that resemble a broken heart.

Protection: Deer fence at least 8 ft. high; homemade and commercial deer repellents that taste and smell bad; barking dog.

Change habitat: Replace tasty fruit trees with spruce and pine. Swap lilies for ferns and rosemary. Add switch grass and ribbon grass--they’ll avoid these ornamentals. Bonus: Works for bunnies, too.

First Time Buyer- Condo vs. House

It is different city to city, but when it comes down to it, there are good and bad things about being a homeowner vs. a condo owner. If you have never considered condo living or don't really know the difference, I thought I would share my take on the topic.

Yard work! Do you like the great outdoors or does the sight of a spider send you running? Do you own a lawnmower? Did you know you have to do maintenance to lawn mowers? Owning a house means owning a yard (usually).  Yard work is tedious and during the warm months can take a lot of time and energy just to keep it from looking bad. Making it look good requires even more work, planting annuals, fertilizing the grass, trimming and raking after mowing.... This is something I see a lot of first time buyers overlooking. They see a nice yard, of course it is appealing visually, but then they don't realize it can take an entire weekend day to keep it looking this way. If you like to spend your summer weekends watching sports and kicking back at the pool- a house might not be the best option. (don't forget about shoveling snow and salting the ice in the winter months, too!)

Home maintenance. Also a thing that some first time buyers don't think about. Not only do you need to keep the inside of the house in working order, but the outside. It can take a beating throughout the year and can be a lot of extra work. Tree limbs can fall, shingles can blow off the roof, squirrels can move into your chimney. If the thought of this work is too much to bear, a condo might be the best option.

A lot of people don't like the idea of paying association fees that most condos have. They cover all of the things I mentioned above and maybe even more. You might get access to a workout room a playground or a pool. All things that you can walk to from your own front door.

If you haven't considered condo living, think it over. It can make your life a lot easier.

I'm busted- Yes, I am having a love affair. Her name is Pinterest!

It was so unexpected. It has been hot and heavy. I can't get enough of it. Ok- I will stop with the innuendos, but I know I am not the only one who has fallen hard and fast for Pinterest. Where do I start? I joined over the holidays because I heard it was the "newest" thing, and I am always up for trying something new. I might also add, I have tried many social media outlets and while many of those accounts sit, stale and untouched, Pinterest has been gaining more and more of my attention. It is the only social media site that has even come close to interesting me as much as Facebook, and I dare I say it... Pinterest is my new #1!

What makes me love it so?
It has so many great ideas that I think I might attempt to try out. The best part is, I can pin these things to a board and when my hectic life allows me "free time" I can pull the board up and pick out the pin I want to try. I admit I have only tried one thing from my 7 Boards, 189 Pins and 87 Likes. Who cares! There is no guilt associated with dreaming. That is part of the fun.

Girl power, no boys allowed?
Yes, it is true. Pinterest is mostly occupied by women. I have heard guys talk badly about it or not understand the reason us ladies love it so much. Men don't understand Women most of the time because our brains function differently. It is the same with Pinterest. Women are visual. We like pretty things. Do you know a Women who loves Shoes or Purses in a way that seems unhealthy? This is the same thing! Women don't wear beautiful, uncomfortable clothes and shoes for Men. They wear them because they are visually beautiful and a compliment from another Women means we were right!
There are some guys who appreciate Pinterest and I know my husband appreciates the ideas I give to him that are from Pinterest. He would never admit it, but I think he hints around when he wants an idea that he thinks I probably have from Pinterest. For example, he recently asked me, who can't cook anything that doesn't go in the microwave, "Do you have any thoughts on St. Patrick's themed foods or drinks?". I should have just opened up my Spring Board and let him take a look.

 

How does Pinterest relate to Real Estate?
Easy! Need to spruce up your decor, your landscaping, your furniture. There are so many diy ideas on making pillow covers, planting cute herb gardens, painting ugly old furniture. Directions and pictures make it seem like anyone can do it. All of these things help make your house a home that you are proud of.

Even if you aren't the most tech savvy person, Pinterest is fun and easy. Come on, you know you want to try it!

For Sale By Owner- Why Not?

It has been a tough couple of years for sellers. It seems like we all know someone who lost their job,
then their home. It is sad and terrible and unfortunately, so very common these days. Something I am
seeing is also a lot of people who are trying to sell their house on their own. Yes, I am a Realtor, and
I think you need me, however, I get it! I recently sold my house and had to pay commission to the
buyers agent and even give money to the brokerage I work for. (Yes- Realtors have to pay commissions, too!) It was a lot of money, but being in the business I understand that my chances of selling go up drastically by using a Realtor. Less than 5% of sellers are able to sell their home without using a Realtor. Here are a couple of things to consider when contemplating selling your home on your own.

How soon do I want to move?

If your answer is "I don't really care", then selling your home by owner could be a good option for
you. Most Realtors want to sell the homes they list. They aren't interested in "testing the market" with
overpriced listings. One reason being is that we are only paid if our listing sells, the other reason is
that it doesn't give us much credibility if we have clearly overpriced listings but aren't selling any of
them. Who would want to hire a Realtor who doesn't actually sell houses?

Do I have time to take on a full time job?

This is the thing I think people overlook most often when trying to sell their own home. While it
might appear to some that all a Realtor does is simply stick a sign in the yard and then sit back and
relax, there is actually a lot going on behind the scenes. A good Realtor makes it look easy, just like
with any profession. When I get a new listing I start out by helping the homeowner stage and prepare
their home for photographs and showings. Once it is ready, I take the interior and exterior photos and
then edit them. I plug all of the details of the home into the local MLS and then feed your listing to
dozens of real estate websites. (Truila, Zillow, Coldwell Banker etc.) I send out Just Listed post cards
to targeted areas. I reverse prospect. This is a tool the MLS grants to Realtors that allows us to see
which other Realtors have clients who are looking for homes in certain parts of town and the price
range they are looking for. I contact these agents to let them know I might have a listing their client
could be interested in. I set up showings. This is a BIG one. Anytime someone calls about a listing
and you don't answer, chances are they move on and you miss a prospective buyer!
These are just some of the things I do before negotiating an offer and helping my clients get to the
closing table.
Some people are cut out for it and actually make it work without the help of a Realtor. Many, will
give it a go and realize they aren't up to the task and end up calling a Realtor to do the job. Just a little
food for thought if you are one of the many people considering taking on a new "full time job" this
Spring.

 

Bring on Spring...cleaning?

This has been an exceptionally mild winter across the country, so I am going to go there. I am ready to be done with the gray skies, the early sunsets, seasonal depression... Yes, if it starts snowing the second I hit send for this post, you can blame me. I say we can skip this one. We haven't had to shovel yet, so why now? This Winter has been a bust, so I say we should look ahead.
Even without me willing Winter away, MLB Spring training is rapidly approaching. GO REDS! So, it is time to dust off your baseball hats and maybe also to tend to a less fun task on your list, its time to start preparing your home for Spring- especially if you are planning on putting it on the market! There is one big thing that we can all do that will make you feel better about your home once the sun reappears and Spring officially arrives, de-cluttering.
Do you save every magazine you subscribe to? Do you still have wrapped holiday gifts for family you didn't see in December? Do something about it! If you aren't good at it, enlist a friend or family member who is organized and on top of things. Chances are if they have all of their belongings in order, they would love to help you get yours in order as well. Start small or it could be really overwhelming. If there is a lot to tackle, start with a closet or the garage. The key is to open up the space to make it look clean and bigger.
One place to start is with closets. If your clothes haven't fit in over 3 years, get rid of them. If donating your prom dress or favorite skinny jeans to Goodwill makes your eyes well up with tears, put them in a box. Put it all in boxes! Label these boxes and store them away for safe keeping. Get rid of the wire hangers and and put everything all on hangers of the same color. Stack folded clothes and shoes according to season or color coordinated to give a nice fresh look.

Just remember, if you haven't looked at, worn or used the item in over a year, you don't need it laying out. Put it away and the house will start to look bigger and cleaner than you can imagine. The benefits of organization and de-cluttering will help you no matter if you are thinking of selling your home or if you plan on staying put for years.

Why can't I put my iPhone down?

I started out with one of the bigger ones. Cell phones, that is. Not the ones with the over-the-shoulder bags, or one of the Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell ones, but it was large.  I can't even remember the name of the phone company, but it was across the road from the Florence, Ky mall back in the late 90's. Ameritech?? Anyhow- back then, I never remembered to bring it with me. I remember getting a flat tire on the expressway at 2 a.m. (after my shift at Jillians) and of course, I didn't have it that night.

Things have changed so much.

I started texting. A few years ago I  made the big move to a smart phone and had a blackberry. This was life changing. Instant email notifications. Internet in my pocket, all day long. I am not sure if this is good for my type of personality or not.

I have found that there are two types of people. Those who have dozens of unopened emails in their inbox, or those who immediately open every email, no matter who it is from. I am the latter. I don't miss an email, and I usually respond to the emails that come in at all times of the day. (I do draw the line when I am with friends or family at dinner... I will not be one of those unengaged people who misses out on real life due to my phone) No texting while talking to another person! How rude.
Fast forward to 2010- Verizon finally got with the program and has the iPhone and I splurged and bought the new 4S. I already had the iTouch and LOVED it, so I knew the iPhone was a better match for me than my dear old Blackberry. In my line of work, contracts and Hud statements need to be viewed on the run and the BB wasn't cutting it. I kept finding myself emailing my husband and his Droid from my Blackberry in order to view the contracts if I got them when I wasn't at home. This was unacceptable for an immediate email opener so I had the obligation to buy the iPhone, right? It wasn't a frivolous purchase. It was essential...for work.

 Side note- I love the quality of pictures and Facetime. My heart skips a beat just thinking about it. The video is great for capturing precious moments and milestones that my son is making... ok, so even without the work stuff, it has some luxurious qualities that I am thoroughly enjoying. I digress... and my question is as follows...

Is it bad that I can't go anywhere without it?  It sits on my lap more than my toddler.

I have mixed emotions about it. I know it is important to stay connected for my business as this is something I take pride in. Being available to my clients and quick to respond to problems and questions. Am I missing out on life though? I am not the only one, and I know I am not the worst. I can turn it off and leave it alone for a few hours at a time. I definitely have friends who can't do that. I am conflicted. Where was the class on balancing life, family, work and your iPhone? I saw an interview of Amy Poehler recently who was saying that she thinks when her children reach college age, that they will probably take a course called "Eye Contact". So true.

I'm Selling My House....In The Spring.

Even if you are not a Realtor,  real estate is a topic that comes up in conversation regularly. Think about it. Did you hear a family member talking about a recent move, a future move, or getting the house ready in order to move, over the holidays? I did. I heard someone talking about it at Quatman's in Mason last week. I heard it in the locker room at the gym I frequent. Ummmm, frequent is a strong word. Lets say I heard it in the locker room at the gym I took a spin class at yesterday.

Real estate is the topic everyone likes to weigh in on, that everyone feels they are an expert on and that is actually socially acceptable to speak about in public. So why does everyone seem to agree that the time to sell is not the winter months but is in the spring? It is a common misconception that you shouldn't bother with selling your house in the winter. Let me share a few reasons why this is a great time to go against the grain and put your house on the market now.

1. Inventory of competition is lower, so your home stands out better to the serious buyers. Your odds of selling go UP during the winter.

2. One of the highest percentages of "Listings Sold" to "Listings Taken" occur during the winter months.

3. People stay at home more in colder weather and online searches go way up. With today's technology and a certain expertise in online marketing (from yours truly) the chances of selling faster increase greatly.

4. Decreased demand on lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, movers and other vendors during this time can cause your closing process to go much more smoothly than at other times of the year.

5. January is traditionally the biggest transfer month, and corporate transferees, who need to buy a home now, CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SPRING. You might miss out on some great buyers if you are sitting around drinking hot coco waiting for baseball season to start. They can't buy your house if it isn't for sale!

While the yard might not be as beautiful and the showings won't be as frequent, the buyers who are out there looking at your home in January and February are serious. If you put your house out there at the right price, it could sell fast and you could end up looking for your new house...in the spring.

Hello- my name is Brianne and I am a Real Estate Agent

As this is my inaugural blog, I feel like I need to explain why I feel my words might be of interest to anyone out there. For today I will keep it simple. There are not very many of us out there. Young(er) real estate agents, that is. The average age is about 50 for most real estate agents. I know when I bought my first house, I used one of those older agents. While he was a dependable, knowledgeable, trustworthy guy, he didn't have a cell phone, a gps, or even an email address at the time. All things that would have greatly helped our communication and in the end, probably would have helped me find my house faster.

I want to let everyone know that there are some of us out here. Some of us who respond to texts, who understand that buyers have already virtually toured most homes prior to wanting to physically visit them, and who appreciate technology and all it has to offer buyers and sellers in today's market. I closely watch local and national market issues and plan on offering insight to different aspects of this topic that everyone already has an opinion on, but is continuously changing. I hope that it will inspire buyers and sellers to not be afraid of the economy, the mortgage process, and most definitely not just settle and use that agent your parents used 25 years ago.