Quote of the Day: Organize!

This Quote of the Day (heretofore QOTD if that's OK with everyone) is brought to you courtesy of my retired 2012 Franklin Covey planner, pocket-sized, spiral-bound.  This little guy was my failed attempt at having a full year of organization in my purse at all times.  This approach and format were short-lived, well, at least by my long-standing relationship with Franklin Covey planners.  I used this small size planner from approximately January 16 through October 22, 2012.

As background, I have been using the same time management system since... wait for it... 1991.  But, I need more space than two pages per week, page size 4" x 5.5" so I am back to the Compact two pages per day format that is comfortable like an old pair of jeans.

I digress... the quote is:

Don't agonize. Organize.
-Florynce Kennedy

In your daily life, or long term planning, or home search, or home sale preparation, just put pen to paper (or stylus to tablet, if you prefer) and make a list.  Then follow it to completion.  I can help if necessary. I was giving some time management advice to a colleague just the other day.  And I create customized home preparation checklists for my sellers as part of my standard listing services.  Let me know how I can help you make more effective use of your time, whether buying, selling, or even staying.

On the Ground: Southwest DC Waterfront

Welcome to my new occasional feature, "On the Ground." As you know from previous posts, part of my job involves previewing properties for current and future buyers and also to maintain my working knowledge of the local real estate market. A new goal of mine is to explore or rediscover neighborhoods in DC and Maryland on a broader level by viewing not only specific properties but also the surrounding areas.

My first journey took me to Southwest DC and the Waterfront area.  I had previously written about the new development in this area, so I wanted to get an On the Ground look at the current market, housing options, and neighborhood amenities.  Who better to assist me but a dear friend and current resident of one of the Harbor Square co-op buildings directly on the water.  Al was kind enough to guide me and my older daughter Lucy around on Bikeshare bicycles for about an hour, weaving through streets and developments with running commentary on the types of units and architecture, the accessibility to amenities and job centers like Capitol Hill, and other interesting and useful topics.

I must pause here to note that the photo above was taking directly in front of Al's building and his views are amazing of the water, Haines Point across the river, and of many of the notable landmarks in DC like the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral, and the Capitol Dome. And to give Al a big shout-out for his hospitality and his time.  

Back to my report on SW DC.... The recent redevelopment of the existing retail to include one of the nicest Safeway grocery stores I've ever seen (a far cry from the Soviet Safeway I used to rely on in my early days in Dupont Circle) and a CVS pharmacy add tremendous convenience to this area.  When they renovated the shopping, they also reconnected 4th St SW with the Mall to the North for better driving access.  With all the new planned housing development, it was awesome to discover the pockets of unique, mid-Century modern architecture throughout this area.  Some development from the 60s was in the style shown here. You can't find pockets of this style in many places in the DC Metro area.

I look forward to showing buyers this unique area of the city and to my next On the Ground adventure.

Buying, Selling, or Staying

So you might be thinking, "Lisa, I get the whole buying and selling thing, but staying? Why do you care about people who are staying in their current home?"

I believe people make all sorts of decisions each year while living in their homes which impact their daily lives as well as the future value of their real estate investment.  I'm not suggesting that all home improvement decisions should hinge on future resale value, but I do think that if all else is equal, getting input from a realtor could help.

Additionally, when working with sellers to help them prepare their home for sale, I tap into my Resource Rolodex with possible vendors if my clients do not have the time or skills to complete all the tasks. Since I have that database ready at all times, I can provide those resources to homeowners even if they are staying. It is all part of being a real estate resource and expert in my community.

So don't hesitate to call on me for my expertise and resources, even if you have no plans to move in the near future.  Staying is just as important a real estate decision as buying or selling.

The Royal Wedding and Our New House

Today is the one-and-a-half-year anniversary for William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and for my family's move into our home in Bethesda. To commemorate both occasions, I bought a handmade Emma Bridgewater Royal Wedding mug last year. Because we had sold our house one day before buying our new home, we were homeless for a day. Our generous friends Nick and Carrie let all four of us plus our two cats stay with them for that night. The Royal Wedding coverage started in the US at 5:30am ET on Friday, April 29, 2011, so Carrrie and I awoke before dawn to watch the ceremony. It is no coincidence that Carrie is the one who started my Emma Bridgewater collection and that we were watching the festivities together.

This is the mug I use every Friday for my morning coffee. I derive simple pleasures from the feel of the mug in my hand, that continued joy of home ownership, and the few moments of peace before the busy-ness of life.

I feel lucky every day that I wake up in my beautiful home, with its Tudor charm, gourmet kitchen, and cozy sunroom. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to help other buyers find their dream home, too.

New Feature: Quote of the Day

In a new occasional feature, maybe to become a side bar on this blog or to stay as brief posts, I will share a Quote of the Day.  Sources will vary.  Additional commentary is optional.

The first QOTD was printed on the top of my Franklin Covey day planner for the week of July 30 to August 5, 2012.

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.
-Harriet Braiker

Ponder this in the context of a new home search.  There is no such thing as a perfect house.  Rather, one can strive and hope to find the most excellent home that meets the highest percentage of your needs and wants.

Taking Our Good Natured Time

There is an interior designer somewhere who is going to see this photo and think, "Bare light bulbs hanging from a sconce electrical connection, brilliant!"  Well, this presupposes that any interior designers actually read my little blog and that they have a unique perspective on design.

Sadly, we have had bare bulbs hanging over our non-existent mantel for longer than I care to admit (think last winter).  The light they emit does produce an almost blinding amount of light (dimmer to follow).  We just have not had the time, or funds, or decision-making capacity to select actual sconces, buy them, and install them.

When we bought our house in Woodhaven, it included an imposing wooden mantel piece which extended to the ceiling and about 12 inches out from the stone surround.  We removed it (well, my friend Pieter did) and discovered a plaster disaster plus two outlet covers.  Whoo hoo - possible light!

The electricians connected the sockets to a light switch by the front door.  To test the wiring, they "installed" these bulbs; everything is safe with no exposed wires.  They don't even match: one, as shown, in its modern efficient glory, and the other, old-fashioned and pear-shaped.

Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you want to do in your home.  As I real estate agent, I care about these "staying" decisions as much as what you should do to prep your house for sale and how to choose the best home to buy.  I thought I'd share a personal example of how I can appreciate that these types of home renovation decisions are not always easy.

I'll post later once we get the sconces, and paint, and add a mantel.

In the Red Zone

Recently one of my colleagues likened the final 7-10 days before the closing on a real estate contract to "being in the red zone." For those not familiar with football of the American variety, the red zone is the twenty yards before the goal line.  NFL teams are ranked on their effectiveness in the red zone by percentages of touchdowns and field goals scored. This is equivalent to "closing the deal" in real estate.

When I started pondering this analogy further, I debated with myself about whether there actually are offense and defense in real estate.  Occasionally as an agent, one may feel on the defensive, to protect their client's best interests.  However, the period of time from agreement and signature on a ratified sales contract to the settlement table where parties transfer ownership of real property is one of mutual interest.  Both sides of the transaction, the buyers and the sellers along with their respective agents, want to get to closing (while still maintaining confidentiality and the best interests of their clients).  They share that goal.

Perhaps a better football comparison is the 2 minute warning. Let's consider the game clock to be the limiting factor and the whole team is working to get to the closing deadline with all issues resolved, all the money available, and the property in the condition as previously agreed in the contract. In both analogies, here is a goal and a time constraint (the number of downs or the clock).

Either way, this period leading up to settlement is busy.  Real estate agents, settlement coordinators, lenders, inspectors, and other professionals are solving problems, answering questions, working together in the best interest of their clients to reach the goal line.

I use three-page checklists as a guide through the period from contract to closing. This organized process helps me be particularly effective in the red zone of real estate.