THE ORNAMENT THAT HOLDS MY HEART..

The Lachel Family Memories

(FAMILY MEMORIES ORNAMENT)

Write your favorite family memories from the past year on the slips of paper.....

This was such a thoughtful and beautiful gift I received from a friend last week.   I really wanted to write down all our family memories from the last year and hang it on my tree, but honestly I actually thought about giving it away to another friend who's had an abundance of memories this year to fill it up.    I hung the ornament on the tree, but never put the memories in.   It's something that I've pondered over all week.   Trying to come up with "memories" that I would want to save.

For me 2010 was fast and really mostly a blur, and for the most part pretty uneventful.  Not bad and not great.   I think 2010 has been really hard for so many people.   I've seen it with the people I work with, I've seen it with my friends, I've seen it with hurting families in my church, I've seen it with most of my clients, and I've see it in my own family.   Times are tough right now.    It's not really my intent to write a depressing blog.  I keep typing and deleting, trying to come up with something inspiring to say.  I've even Googled various words trying to see what pops up for "Good Memories or Events" for 2010.  I'm having a hard time finding anything worth writing about.

I may not have climbed a mountain this year, or went on a fabulous trip, or won the lottery or some other memorable event, but 2010 will be the year that I will remember that I was very blessed.   I have two great boys, who I am so proud of.  I have a nice home that we get to live in.  I've been blessed to help many clients work through their hardship, I've sold homes, I've worked with buyers, I've put lots of people in rentals who had terrible credit,  My husband has a job and has been able to pay the bills. We have good health.  We have a great family. We have a few great friends. We have an abundance of clothes and we have been warm and have had food to eat every day.   

The memories that have been special this year is that my son, Brian, graduated from High School and he bought his first car,   I drove Keith to school every morning and we've had lots of laughs listening to Carman's 7am prank call and time to talk,  He got his permit and started to drive,  Keith went to homecoming with a girl that was special to him and he looked so handsome, and I celebrated my 21st wedding anniversary with my husband.

The truth is I have lots of great things I could write down to put in the ornament that really do not have much to do with 2010, and everything to do with whats in my heart.... Love & Faith.
 

What would you put in your ornament?   YOU ARE LOVED!



~The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the
  most credentials, the most money...or the most awards.

  They simply are the ones who care the most.

This Month in Real Estate (US) : November 2010

Take advantage of this awesome market!! This is one of the best times ever to be able to afford a home of your own, and stop paying for your landlords mortgage.  If you can afford to pay rent, ask me what you need to do in order to buy your own home?  You may be surprised. 

What's it Gonna Take???

During a session of our SHIFT BOOK CLUB at Keller Williams, someone commented that they tell their clients, that there's never a day that they look at the HotSheet of homes and do not see a home sold or closed.  That is so true!  Homes are still selling today! Why are some homes selling but others aren't?  What's it Gonna Take to get your home SOLD?? The million dollar question....


Some great SELLERS of mine were in town the other day and they asked to take me to lunch.  Of course, the subject was mostly about real estate and selling homes.   One of the ladies said that a friend of hers has been trying to sell her home for a long time now, but hasn't had any offers on the home because it looks like GRANDMA'S HOUSE.  It's one thing to look Vintage, but it's another if your home is so dated that it's referred to as Grandma's house.  The best thing you can do for a quicker sale is to get rid of the wallpaper, put a fresh, warm neutral color on the walls, and pack up the doilies and nik naks.    You want to appeal to the largest pool of buyers you can so LESS IS BEST.  My clients had their home listed with another Realtor before me with not a lot of luck.  They have taken all my suggestions, and have done pretty inexpensive updates to get their home show ready.  They've been awesome to work with! I LOVE clients like that.  It's amazing how much can change with just some paint on the walls & cabinets, and some new inexpensive drapes.  I think with the Paint (Throughout most of the house, including the 2 story entry & two vaulted ceilings, and lots of trim), the new laminate counter tops, the new hardware, new drapes, some minor projects and a cute little table, we probably had $5000 in the whole thing, and it looks so much better!  With simple improvements you will get that back with less time on the market and also final purchase price.  We've had great feedback and we have our fingers crossed for a potential offer SOON. 

What does the statement "Original Owners" communicate to you? To me that says DATED!  


Your house can look great and is TIP TOP show ready, but you're still not getting an offer?? Why not?  If you have a home that's getting showings, but no offers, then you have your home priced too high.  The MARKET determines the price.   It doesn't matter what you need out of the home, or what the neighbor sold for, or whether you feel you have the best home on the block... the value of your home is only based on the current market and what homes that compare to your home are selling for.... APPLES TO APPLES.    Determine the price of your home by looking at what SOLD (not listed) in your neighborhood, but also looking outside of your neighborhood that buyers are buying in.    Buyers want value and value is Price per (perceived) Square Foot.   A perfect example is, if you are a 3 bedroom home and you're priced equally to 4 bedroom homes, your home is NOT going to sell.  If your home doesn't a have a basement and you're priced equally to homes with a basement, your home is NOT going to sell.   If your home doesn't have a Den or a Mud Room and your home is priced equally with homes that have those extra rooms, your home is NOT going to sell.  Obviously there's always an EXCEPTION to that rule.   If you have a unique, fabulous home that overlooks the lake, or has some other special feature a buyer is looking for, then your home may sell.  I'm talking Apples to Apples.

Side Note.... Any amount of clutter is your worse enemy when selling a home.  Clutter will sabotage a sale. Buyers CAN NOT get past the things to see the home.  Pack it up and put it in the garage or the basement.  Less is ALWAYS best!  Your home may sell better vacant if that's your case. 

My personal PET PEEVE is how the home shows online.   As a Realtor, I hate going online to search for homes for a buyer and seeing listings that have pictures of the front of the house only, or worse yet.. no picture at all.  Also, nothing is worse than seeing pictures of peoples STUFF or the Toilet seat up!  I work hard at capturing the room.  The whole room from ceilings to walls.  What is the focus of the picture?  Is it the Flowers all over the room, and the red rugs on the floors, or are you looking at the Vaulted ceilings and the Hardwood floors?   I'm not an EXPERT photographer by any means, but I will retake my pictures multiple times, until I can capture the room the best I can.   I also update my pictures as the seasons change.   Who wants to look at a home with snow and dead greenery in the middle of the summer, when you could capture the home with green grass, colorful flowers and blue skies.  99% of buyers SHOP online for homes.  How your home shows online is top priority when it comes to getting buyers through the door.  I recently helped a young couple find a rental after they spent months trying to sell their condo with another Realtor with not 1 showing!!   Unfortunately, I met them late in the process of selling their condo because they were already in the process of doing a DEED IN LIEU.    I asked them why they didn't try to  Short Sale first, they said they did.  Hmm... well that seemed odd to me?  After talking with them and asking them why they felt their condo didn't sell,  I told them that I would go online to check their listing and look at their pictures and give them some suggestions as to why I think they haven't got any showings.  They said.. "Oh we don't have any pictures online".   When I asked them, why they didn't a have any pictures, they said their Realtor NEVER took any!!  Can you imagine?  That Realtor was neglectful and didn't represent the client well.  In fact, he's partially to blame for the client NEVER getting any showings and losing their home.  I felt terrible for these people.   They are an awesome couple, and they worked so hard to do the right thing and work with the bank.   SAD SAD SAD!

Well... You get the point.  I could go on and on about this subject because there's so many factors that contribute to getting a home sold.  That's why you hire a professional, full time Realtor.  If you want to hear more, feel free to call me or ask me any questions.   I'm always happy to help!  YOU ARE LOVED!

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Rev 3:30 

Jesus Christ

TEXTURE OF OUR HEARTS...

When I first became a Realtor it was exciting.   I loved helping people find the homes they love and selling their homes within 30 days.   It was awesome!   At times I was so overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to do it was crazy.    I'm not sure how many people I've told my story to about how I got into Real Estate?   I was one of those people who would go to every new development to look at the model homes.   I loved looking at houses and I loved searching for homes for friends who were looking.  I was one of those crazy "buyers" that Tyler would say... "Get out of my car!" .. Jokingly of course.   At that time I was a mom and working as a part-time dental assistant, and after about 10 years of doing that, circumstances changed and left me with an open door to investigate one of my dreams.   I was really scared.   I "thought" I wasn't a great student and the thought of passing an intense test that contained math!  OMGosh!!  I didn't tell anyone that I was even doing it... not even my own mom.   I was scared I was going to fail.    I loved it though and I studied my BUTT off!! (wish it was littoral).   I ended up passing my class with an A and I passed the Real Estate Exam on the first try!   I was shocked and so excited that I called my mom in the car and told her what I did.   I had prayed often asking God for direction and wondering if I was making the right decision.   I was really nervous to start up a business after working and receiving a steady paycheck for so many years.  I was a good dental assistant too and one of the top paid assistants.   I started questioning my decision and went and applied for some dental assisting jobs.   I got the interviews and the dentist raved about how they would love to hire me, but every door was closed!  I thought, ok Lord you obviously don't want me doing that anymore so I'm going to trust that you've open this new chapter in my life for a reason.   I interviewed with a number of brokerages, but ended up going with my gut on my decision and chose to work for Kim McGuire at the new Prudential office.  I just felt a connection to Kim and felt she was a genuine and honest person.... and she is.  I was blessed in my new career as Realtor right from the start and took off running!!   Our teacher told us in class that 90+% of the people who attempt real estate don't make it their first year.  The Lord has really opened so many doors and provided so many blessings for me that I am grateful for.  

The best blessings have truly been my clients.    Everyone of them have a story and it's always so exciting to see how it turns out and why our paths connected.    Lately those stories have changed.   Now I'm a counselor and a financial adviser.   Times are really tough for people and there is so much pain in the world right now.     We are listing and selling homes due to hardship.   People can't pay their mortgage, their marriages are stressed and falling apart, their dreams have been shattered, they've lost their jobs and can't find any employment.    It's heart breaking.    But I LOVE IT!  Not the circumstances but being able to be there to listen, to let them know I want to help and to create a solution that's going to work.   As much as I loved being able to put food on my table and pay my bills, it's not always about that anymore.    Circumstances have changed for my family too and we have to live off of a whole lot less than we were accustom too, but God is good and it's so evident to us his blessings.  If I didn't have to worry about paying my bills.. I'd honestly just work for free and continue helping and counseling hurting people.   As cruddy as I am in math, I've found I'm really good with finances and creating solutions quickly.   People just need to know that there's someone who cares, who can give them direction and let them know they have options.  The worse possible thing you can do in that situation... is nothing!  The heartbreaking thing for me is talking with those people when it's already been a year or two years that they have been frozen in their path, and scared not knowing what to do.  Doesn't mean it's hopeless though!   If you know of anyone who's struggling financially please please let them know they have options and I would love to help educate them on what they can do.... and a lot of times keep them in their homes.    I don't have all the answers, but I definitely have the heart... and the understanding.... by the grace of God truly.  YOU ARE LOVED!

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  

Are you not worth much more than they?  

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"  .... 

For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things." Matt 6

The Truth....

This morning I was reading, The Journey by Walk In The Word, and the topic was Dependency.   This honestly is a subject I struggle with because it often comes up at any Realtor Convention you attend.

Not too long ago I went to a training session for Keller Williams called Quantum Leap (side thought... I love all the training and energy Keller Williams bring to their agents.  It's Awesome!) there were a lot of good points, in fact one of the first quotes in the book was, "True wealth is not about money, it's about abundance and great plenty.(and then.....)  An abundant life is a life marked with Great Plenty in your THINKING, in the ACCOMPLISHMENT of your PERSONAL PURPOSE, in the habits that make your daily life, and in your key relationships.  It's a life in which you ACHIEVE harmony, because YOU know what the important elements are and you actively counterbalance them.   I struggle with those things because I honestly feel that no (blessings) just happen.   The first thought that popped in my mind was, "Seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" if you read that verse further it says.. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own".      I have to be honest and say I fail at the "do not worry" part of it sometimes, but as soon as I banish those thoughts and really start trusting again... I'm always blessed.  I see His blessing all the time.   Anyway... back to my original thought while sitting in the class.   I guess for me, I don't ever want to get to a point where I feel like I have control and it's up to me to "Steer my life"... Can you imagine??  I guess that's why Carrie Underwood has that song, "Jesus Take The Wheel".    I know I can't ACCOMPLISH anything on my own, and my PERSONAL PURPOSE is to Glorify God in all that I do.     If you've NEVER read the Bible it's the best user manual available on the shelves!  God designed us and He gave us the best instructions for life ever... for relationships, parenting, marriage, communication, finances... you name it, it's in there.

I'm dependent on God.. but actually it's so much more than that, because that's only a small part.  You have to have the Holy Spirit.   The Journey states... "Part of the Holy Spirits ministry is to lead us into truth.  The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit.  They are foolishness to him".  Understanding God is not learning practical logic like one would learn Algebra  or Geometry (Thank God!! I wouldn't learn anything then) or even history.  We do not know the things of God without the work of the Spirit of God to open our eyes and give understanding.  Spiritual truth does not make sense to the human mind that is Detached from God.    In our everyday lives, when we depend upon Christ (Not ourselves), we are drawing upon the grace, presence, and power of His indwelling Spirit.  We learn things about Him we never would otherwise, and in areas where we wouldn't normally feel capable, we discover the complete sufficiency of Christ.  Jesus will ALWAYS meet the NEEDS of every heart in which He dwells.  LOVE THAT!!!  That takes me back to my original thought about Life isn't about money... there's so much more, and the really awesome thing is I don't have to worry about it, because God promises he will provide all my NEEDS... and he does.   I'm so Glad I GET THAT.   Because these are scary times and I'm not going to worry about it.    So if you are feeling worried, stressed, sick, poor, lonely, .... check out the best manual out there, the Holy Bible, and know YOU ARE LOVED!

Love,

Heidi

In The Beginning..

Wow... you would probably laugh if you knew how long of a process this was for me to get to this point.  I really didn't want to blog... but yet HERE I AM??  

I really don't like to journal and I've never been someone to keep a diary so we'll see how this goes.  I'm excited to see what I write, and hopefully you'll find it exciting too.

MOre... to CoMe

Love,
 Heidi