Stephanie Jacques

This morning I awoke to frost. I went out to feed the horses, let out the chickens, and take a breath of that quiet, fall morning air. It's back...I thought. It felt great.

I feel this is a time of year when we, in New England, are reminded by Mother Nature to take a moment to relax, take a breath, look at what's changing around us. So much is changing, though oftentimes it's easier to observe the visual changes than to feel changes elsewhere.

Last weekend I attended a neighborhood cider making gathering. Friend and neighbors brought their own apples from their trees. As imperfect and bruised as they all were, some with black circles and little worm holes in them, the apples produced the most wonderful, sweet tasting apple cider. I brought several jars and filled them up to freeze them so that I could be reminded of the time we all gathered together to make apple cider. I'll remember watching my four year old daughter was spinning around the apple press, making for the very first time, her own cup of cider. Donuts, a small bonfire, good music and great people. Surrounded by fall foliage, the smell of a damp forest with only a slight opening for the 200 + year old colonial home behind us. No neighbors, a dirt road winds around the property leading us from Sullivan, NH to the small village center of Nelson, NH. A road where so many people have stopped by the house to ask, where are we? We're looking for Nelson village, but this can't possibly be the main road that leads us there? "Keep going" we urge with confidence that they will eventually get there, after taking the most beautiful drive of their life- Apple Hill Road, Sullivan, NH.

On another day, I take the drive from Keene, NH to Jaffrey, down Rte. 124 where I stop, every year, to look at Mount Monadnock in the fall. We have pictures from year to year from this very same spot. Each year the colors are vibrant and I feel at peace.

This is the time I take a moment to slow down. Working with my clients is more relaxed, more comfortable than ever. They feel it too.

Take the time to enjoy! Happy Fall.

My husband just sent me this article about the winning bidder on a home in Siganaw, Michigan! What a way to sell the home, what a way to take a loss! I bet we'll see more and more of this. It leaves me to believe that some homes you'd even have to PAY people to buy! I have many buyers who leave a fixer upper and make that very comment!

SEE ARTICLE

When listing a property, I speak with my sellers about whether all showings will be accompanied by myself or not (as listing agent). The buyers always come with their agent, but is it always necessary for the listing agent to be present?

I feel that, in some cases, no, and in other cases, yes...I don't feel it's always in the seller's best interest if their listing agent is one who hovers over the buyers at a showing. I've received comments from buyers that they would prefer to view a house without the listing agent around, that it's more comfortable and they can relax as they look. Oftentimes there is nothing a listing agent can do or say to make a buyer want to buy a property, and at times, there are things the listing agent shares that they can actually be liable for, such as the comment that the basement is dry... If a buyer takes their word for it, buys the house and the basement ends up moist or wet the next season, who's liable?

I think requiring accompanied showings can sometimes be a detriment to the seller, though not it all cases, and so take this as a general statement. Most of my showings are unaccompanied. I don't want my schedule to hold up a potential buyer's ability to view a property, and what about when agents have several listings, he or she may not be able to attend all showings at once.

Are accompanied showings common practice in other areas of the country, and what is your experience with them? As a seller, what do you see as benefits and detriments to this arrangement? At least there is one fact, homes have been selling either way.

Below is a link about the effects of the proposed Economic Stabilization Act on REALTORS. It presents the bill's provisions and talks about the legislation that is being considered.

The House has defeated the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) on a vote of 205 - 228. NAR supported the package. Media reports about it did not present the case for the many ways it would have supported the real estate industry.

If you've been affected by the turn in our economy in ANY WAY...

CLICK HERE

This will only take you 10 seconds and could be one of the best investments you've had the nerve to make in a long time!

So often I work with First Time Buyers. I love these people. They are so interested in the process, they ask the right questions, and they are fun to work with. After years of working with First Time Buyers I've come to the conclusion that it's better to prepare them to be prepared to be prepared to be prepared...

Huh? What do I mean by this? Most specifically, I run into these scenarios so frequently that it should go down in the books. The buyers see a wonderful property and they haven't looked at enough to determine that this really is the best one for thtem. OR The buyers are uncomfortable with taking the next step (making an offer) because they have never done this before, and another offer comes along too quickly before they decide to make an offer. This is painful.

While balancing between not wanting to push a new buyer and being honest about these possibilities, I find myself needing to be quite blunt about it. I can't hold back, these buyers need to know the reality that, even in this market, properties are selling in under 30 days still, especially if it is a home as desirable as the one they've just fallen in love with.

So my approach to this has changed over the years to: the more the buyers know about the possibilities, their options, the various scenarios that can play out, the better informed they can be and the better the chance it is that they will not lose out when they come upon THAT home.

As their agent, it is my job to take them through this process in a way that is transparent, without hiding anything. The experiences I've had add value to what I offer as a Buyer's Agent to the First Time Buyer. It's something we all need to be assertive about because this is what we're hired for.