Dawn A Fabiszak, CRS, GRI, SFR, CNE Servicing Arapahoe County over 18 yrs

~ The Lender You Choose Matters More Than You Think! ~

I have been selling real estate for 19 years. (Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, I mean, I must have started when I was 12!) I help folks buy and sell real estate all over the Denver metro area. Most of my business is either referral or past clients. When you have been in this industry that long, if you do a good job, that is where most of your business should come from, if you know what you are doing and you make people happy with their choices; choices of whom they choose to to represent them,

When I work with a buyer, I have them get prequaled first, making sure we are looking in the right price range. I work with a lender that is fantastic. She is knowledgeable, has killer customer service skills and this is important, the loans are processed and underwritten locally. The listing agent can call and get an update from a real person, without going through some automated phone center. The agent doesn't have to call some 1-800 number and get routed through a crazy help desk and never talk to the same person twice.

I have a short sale property listed for sale. It was on the market for just 3 days when I received 3 offers to present to the sellers. Each agent was notified of the multiple offer situation and to give me their highest and best offer to present to the sellers. All 3 offers were full price or higher. The offers were relatively the same on paper. The same, that is, except for one major difference on one of the offers. That potential buyer had prequaled through a national company that does more than just mortgages. These buyers had called in on a toll free 1-800 number and had gotten pre-qualed by a help desk. The loan package,processing and underwriting would be done in another state. The pre-qualification letter had one paragraph about the buyers qualifications to purchase a home. But the rest of the letter (the remainder of 2/3 of the first page and half of a second page) was advertisement about this company and how great they were. ( I thought a pre-qualification letter from a lender was supposed to be about the buyers qualifications, not an advertisement about their company...I guess nobody told them this!)

The other 2 offers were accompanied by lender letter solely going over the buyers' qualifications. They were also using local lenders. Needless to say, that first offer was quickly rejected. The sellers wanted to know why a lender advertised on a pre-qualification letter, but I didn't have an answer for them. (Do you have an answer I could pass along to them?)

When I called up that agent to tell him that his buyer's offer had not been accepted and the reason why. He stated that the buyer decided to use this national company because they had used them before for other things and they felt comfortable with their previous business dealings. I explained that the sellers wanted to work with a lender that could be contacted for updates on the loan process by dialing one number and getting an answer, not by dialing a toll free number and getting transferred multiple times or pressing 1 for this department and press 2 for that department.

The bottom line is, our market here in Denver is changing quickly. The inventory is lower. I am experiencing multiple offers on many listings. I want my buyers' offer to stand out (for good reasons) and be accepted by the sellers, and for my sellers to feel confident with the offer they accept. The lender that a buyer chooses can make or break a deal...during a transaction by not getting the loan done, or before the offer even gets accepted by the seller because the company isn't local or the pre-qual letter is an advertisement about the company.

Buyers need to do their research. Choose a very qualified lender to do your loan. Choose a lender that is recommended by your agent or by close friends. Don't choose a lender from a phone book or an Internet site. You won't be doing yourself a favor if you do.

If you are a buyer or a seller in the Arapahoe county area and need a good REALTOR(R) to help you make sound real estate decisions, Dawn Fabiszak has the experience you need. Give her a call today at 303-332-8025 or visit her website www.DownHomeInDenver.com. You'll be glad you did.

~ Wrigley ~

I adopted a wonderful dog and named him Wrigley from the Denver Dumb Friends League Buddy Center in Castle Rock. (Yes, I am originally from the Chicago area, and moved to Denver over 20 years ago.) The information about him was minimal at the most. What I do know was that he was in a shelter in New Mexico for about 10 days before being transferred up here. He was only at this shelter for 2 days before I adopted him. They weighed him in at 24 lbs. at the first shelter, but when I brought him to a Vet, he was up to 27 lbs. and still on the very slim side. On his information they said he was a Shiba Inu and Australian Cattle Dog mix.

I had a pure bred Shiba Inu named Kobi. I could see, maybe, a little Shiba in him, however he was much taller and his ears were way larger than Kobi's. I looked up Australian Cattle Dogs to get some information on that breed. Yes, Wrigley had more of the ears, but the body just wasn't right. Wrigley has the build of a Greyhound.

It wasn't until I watched the Westminster Dog Show that things started to click. I had an AH Ha moment. While watching the herding group, there was a dog that looked similar to Wrigley. I had my computer so I looked up a Canaan. It's an ancient dog from Egypt. The Canaan can come in many colors; solids, with patches, brindle, white or black masks and can come in four types such as: a heavy sheepdog appearance, a Border Collie appearance, dingo-like appearance or a Greyhound appearance.

I know I can have a blood test done and sent in somewhere that will tell me what breed/mix of breeds my dog is. But for now, I am going to assume that he is at least part Canaan. What do you think???

Australian Cattle Dog Canaan Dog Kobi (Shiba Inu)

*** Australian Cattle Dog and Canaan Dog phots taken from Dog Image Web site on Google. ***

~ Watching the Snow Fall ~

When I woke up this morning, I decided to work from home. Why? Today the Denver area is in the middle of a blizzard. As I looked out my bedroom window, I could no longer see the dead grass on the ground, just a fluffy white covering. Why submit myself to the dangers of driving on the icy roads along with hundreds of other drivers when I can work from home?

It was actually peaceful and relaxing watching the snow blow in the wind and fall gracefully to the ground. Everything looks so serene and peaceful with a blanket of freshly fallen snow.

Wrigley, my dog, really enjoyed the snow. I watched him hop through it and play. He was having a ball. I'm not sure if he knew what snow was. I adopted him just over a month ago. He came from a shelter in New Mexico and I have no history on him. What I do know is that both of our lives are better because of it.

At one point he was trying to jump up on the fence. He saw a squirrel in a tree and was trying to get to him! He actually got his hind legs up to the half way post on the fence. (Uh oh...Is the fence tall enough???) He had a blast hopping back and forth and around the yard. And I enjoyed the entertainment he gave me!

Wrigley was tired at the end of a fun filled day of playing in the snow! And I was able to continue working....and watch how peaceful Wrigley looked curled up in a little ball. I think I hit the jackpot when I adopted him. He is a very sweet, gentle and loving dog.

What do you like to do when it snows all day?

~ Half a Million ~

I started on ActiveRain on October 21, 2009. I didn't know what I was doing at all. It wasn't until November 20, 2009 when I wrote my first post (poorly written, I might add.) It took me until November 30th to comment on a post, but only one that day. Then I wrote my third post on December 21, 2009. This one wasn't much better than the first one I wrote. I tried my pen again on December 21st and was thrilled to receive 305 points! WooHoo! This got me excited. I knew my post was at least good enough for people to make comments.

My written posts came few and far between, but I continued to comment on others posts. I was getting the hang of it, sort of. I started my Mind Bender series in February of 2010. I enjoyed building some relationships through humor. I also attended Rain Camp this month. The information I received was more than I ever could have expected.

In March of 2010, my post Jack of All Trades, Master of None actually made it on the Daily Drop! I was hooked. The thrill of having this kind of recognition felt wonderful. You see, I am not the best of writers and it has always been a challenge for me to put my thoughts down on paper. I reached 100,000 points in mid June of 2010.

I took on some contests and tried to write with more frequency. And that frequency has paid off! I am addicted to this Rain play. I have built relationships with many people from across the United States. Without AR, I never would have even met them. I have expanded my knowledge. I have become a better writer (at least I think I have.) And, yes, I have even gotten a few referrals! I have even written a few features that I am proud of.

As of this moment, I have 499, 677 points. Once I post this, and get a few comments, I will reach a half a million points! If you would have asked me just over 2 years ago, if I could predict how many points I would have at this time, I never would have said a half a million! But here I am!!!

~ Good Karma Coming Full Circle ~

I have past clients that I have sold a few homes to and they have referred me to several family members and friends. I would call them terrific "A" clients.

Last fall they sent me an email that they had a new employee moving out from the Chicago area and wanted to know if I could contact her and help her find a rental here in town. The new employee wanted to eventually buy a place, but would prefer to rent first, until she got to know the city. So, as a good will gesture, I was happy to do this for them.

I met their new employee, Jessica, on Saturday. I had several rental properties scheduled for us to view. It was the 5th property, The Breakers Resort Rental Properties in Denver, that she fell in love with. We had to wait for over an hour to meet with a leasing agent. But, Jeffrey was pleasant, extremely patient and helpful. He took his time with us. Answered all of Jessica's questions. Offered suggestions on different floor plans. (The community had 44!)

Jeffery took us on a golf cart to view the community, the lake, several of their 6 pools, 2 of their multiple club houses and so much more. He really sold the community, not just an apartment. When we got back to the leasing office, we talked some more. Jeffery wanted to know how Jessica and I knew one another. I explained how we were connected. He said that I could receive a referral fee of up to half of a months rent for bringing Jessica to the community.

Wow! This was unexpected. This is not the norm for the Denver area. I have been selling residential real estate for almost 19 years here. I told several agents of my rental referral surprise. They were all just as surprised as I was.

I'm going to look at this as good karma coming full circle!