Katie Creek

Last week I had the opportunity to go on a listing appointment that was referred to me by a Mortgage Broker that does Reverse Mortgages. Little did I know what I was stepping into as I ran the door bell and waited for her approach. While waiting I had the chance to jot down some notes on what needs to be done on the outside to make it look more presentable. When, the door opened I almost passed out from the stench that was coming from the inside of this home. As I introduced myself I knew that this was going to be a challenge.

Taking a deep breath of fresh air before entering I slowly walked in. My shoes were now sticking to the floor as I approached the dining room area and as I walked I would literally have to pull my shoe so they wouldn't stay behind!

I sat at the dining room table where I could see the garbage piled up on the lanai. While I'm sitting there I was thinking, "man what a mess"! How am I ever going to sell this place in the condition it's in and with this sweet lady not realizing that this will need to be cleaned up from top to bottom!

As I sat there talking to her she had told me that she wanted me to "tell her like it is" Fortunately or maybe unfortunately for her I am well known for this and this is probably why the property got referred to me in the first place. Without trying to take a deep breath at this time I started my unique gift of "telling it like it is"!

"First", I said to her "we need to get this place cleaned up", "the carpeting needs to be completely pulled out", "this large piece of furniture has to go, as it takes up over one third of the living area"! "Then, we need to get someone in here that will take care of all the trash, by trash I mean everything on the lanai that is not needed, this includes any magazines, books, papers, etc. that is not really needed by you." But then the bombshell came. "But," she says to me, "I don't have any money".

I am well aware that many people in today's world are in dire circumstances so I asked about the home and how long she had lived there. She informed me that she owned the home outright, so without a second thought I said, "Let's get and equity line of credit then." Then the second bombshell went off when she said, "I can't, my credit isn't any good." So, now I'm thinking that this will be more difficult than I first thought as not only is she behind in her HOA dues, she can't even get a equity line of credit!

While I was there pondering what I could do to help this lady out I kept thinking "who would help". I made a few phone calls and started writing some notes for her as a guideline for "things to do". I stayed with her and talked with her for over 2 hours. During this conversation I had told her that I can't get her the best and highest price for her home because of the stinch and condition of the home. That I felt even if a minor things were changed she could reap a better return on her investment.

When I left that woman she had a plan, a mission that she was on and I knew that in a matter of weeks, she could have the place presentable enough that it would sell without having to "give it away"! She had made plans to move with her daughter in Virginia and I felt better knowing that she was going somewhere where she could get some quality care.

Needless to say on the way home, I couldn't stand the way I smelt, the smell was everywhere, in my hair, on my feet, on the suit I had been wearing. As I pulled into the driveway of my home I sat and thanked God that I maybe I would be able to help this woman. To make her last years better for her in some respect.

Things didn't turn out quite that way though. I got a call from my Mortgage Broker friend, he informed me that the daughter couldn't accept mom at this time. My heart sank, not for me, but for this poor woman as I know that seeing and being with her Granddaughter was the up-most importance to her.

Long story short, my Mortgage Broker friend is doing a reverse mortgage for her and she will be staying in the home. However, sometimes I feel that I am awfully rough on people but with that being said I have vowed stay committed to: "Telling it like it is"

Katie Creek
www.FL-WaterFrontProperty.com

OK, so the West Pasco Board Education Committee decided to have a seminar called Boot Camp. Well, it came with 4 credits and thinking, hummm this doesn't sound to bad and after reviewing the article found myself taking the course. One of the best things that I have ever done in my career. Even though at first I thought it was just for Newbies, I soon found out differently. This was exactly what I needed to get my juices charged up and raring!

The Title was "CAREER MANAGEMENT FROM THE GROUND UP: ACCELERATED BOOT CAMP by STEVEN DAVID. If you have never gone to one of these I highly recommend it. After several years in business I never had anyone say to me, what are you doing to further your business. Well, the normal I blog, I put cards out, check in with my buyers and my sellers. But this went much deeper. I was told about Scripts. WHAT!!! Scripts. YUP, I never knew that they had scripts in Real Estate and was quite taken back by this. With my love of people talking just came naturally to me, so I guess there would be no need for me to have Scripts.

However, I found out many different ways of saying what I wanted to get "the point" across without jeopardizing a sale, or potential listing. I found out that we COULD CALL EXPIREDS if we got the do not call list and a persons name was not on it. Ya, it would run about $60. but well worth it if you want to work the phone. Found out how to use the DMV also. Neat little trick. REALLY!!!

But one thing that blew me away that not even my Broker had mentioned to us was the fact that many people could use their upcoming return from the IRS for a Down Payment on their home if their a first time home-buyer with the $8000. tax credit coming to them. Now, I have to admit, right now I don't know how this will all work, but you can bet by the end of the day I will.

Needless to say, this boot camp was way above what I expected. There are other CD's available that can be purchased from Mr. David however, the seminar itself, is just awesome. If he or someone else comes to your board, please take advantage of it. I'm sure you'll never regret that you did.

Katie
www.FL-WaterFrontProperty.com
727-415-4669

Let me tell you about the art, if you want to call it that of selling a home, it is definitely NOT SMELLING your home! For instance, last Saturday I had the chance to work with a couple looking for their first home. It was an exciting time for them as I had been sending them properties for a week so the first property was rather important.

Unfortunately, I got a little lost, (boy, do I need a Tom Tom) but they were kind enough to rescue me and the search for that perfect home was on. Pulling up to the driveway my heart sunk into my stomach and as I approached the home, it even got worse. Little did I know what was lying ahead of this first visit.

We made all the necessary connections, I introduced myself and they did so in turn. As we walked up to the home we notice cracks in the stucco, not normal cracks, minor and major. A dead give away that maybe there were some settling issues here! But alas, we will enter into the home and see what it is like.

IF I COULD TAKE A PICTURE, it wouldn't do it justice!!! Upon entry you got blown away, not by wind...oh no, but by the stench of SMOKE in this house. Yup, it was like there had been a smoke party in the home and someone didn't know that they should maybe open a window!!! Oh, but it was not just the smoke, there was also a cat! Now, anyone that owns a cat knows that you must take care of this on a regular basis. I can't tell you if these people know that or not but, the selling agent sure should be letting them know.

Unfortunately, that was not the end of it! OH NO....every shade in the house was pulled down, so there was absolutely NO LIGHT in the house. We made it as far as the living room area which was about 5 feet inside this house, and all of us turned for the door and headed to the outside. We decided that this was NOT the home for them. Imagine that!!

A few days later I got an automatic email from the listing agent asking me to fill out this form about the home and what I thought about it, now I could have sweet, or just not have answered that automatic email but no....NOT ME! What do you think I did? Of course I did, I told him the condition of the home, I told him about cat and the SMELL and told him, "Good luck selling this one!"

Katie Creek
727-415-4669
www.FL-WaterFrontProperty.com